Anthony Edwards (basketball) facts for kids

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Anthony Edwards

Edwards with the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2021

No. 5 – Minnesota Timberwolves

Shooting guard

Personal information

Born

August 5, 2001 (age 24)
Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.

High school

Therrell (Atlanta, Georgia)
Holy Spirit Prep (Atlanta, Georgia)

Listed height

6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)

Listed weight

225 lb (102 kg)

Career information

College

Georgia (2019–2020)

NBA Draft

2020 / Round: 1 / Pick: 1st overall

Selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves

Pro career

2020–present

League

NBA

Career history

2020–present

Minnesota Timberwolves

Career highlights and awards

4× NBA All-Star (2023–2026)
NBA All-Star Game MVP (2026)
2× All-NBA Second Team (2024, 2025)
NBA All-Rookie First Team (2021)
FIBA Basketball World Cup All-Tournament Team (2023)
Second-team All-SEC (2020)
SEC Rookie of the Year (2020)
McDonald's All-American (2019)

Medals

Men's basketball

Representing the United States
Olympic Games
Gold	2024 Paris	Team

Anthony Edwards (born August 5, 2001) is a super talented American professional basketball player. People often call him "Ant-Man" or just "Ant". He plays as a shooting guard for the Minnesota Timberwolves in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Anthony was the very first player chosen in the 2020 NBA draft. He played college basketball for the Georgia Bulldogs.

Anthony is a four-time NBA All-Star. He has been selected twice for the All-NBA Second Team. He also won a gold medal with the U.S. Olympic team in 2024. In high school, he was considered one of the best young players in the country. He even played in the famous McDonald's All-American Game.

Anthony Edwards' Early Life and Sports Beginnings

Anthony grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. His dad gave him the nickname "Ant-Man" when he was just three years old. As a kid, Anthony loved playing football. He was a great running back, quarterback, and cornerback. By age 10, he was one of the top youth football players in the country.

Later, Anthony decided to focus on basketball. He thought it looked more fun after watching his brothers play. They often played basketball together at their grandmother's house. When he started high school, he began training with Justin Holland. Justin was a former college basketball player and a coach in Atlanta.

High School Basketball Journey

Anthony started playing high school basketball at Therrell High School in Atlanta. He was already a talented player. In 2017, he moved to Holy Spirit Preparatory School to help with his studies. This school had smaller classes and more support.

At Holy Spirit Prep, Anthony led his team to a state championship win in 2018. He was a top player, scoring many points and grabbing rebounds. By his senior year, he was considered the best young basketball player in the country. He averaged 29 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 assists per game. Anthony was also chosen to play in the famous McDonald's All-American Game.

Becoming a Top College Recruit

Many colleges wanted Anthony to play for them. He was a five-star recruit, meaning he was one of the best young players. On February 11, 2019, he decided to play for the University of Georgia. This was a big deal for the Georgia basketball team. He chose Georgia because he liked their coach, Tom Crean. Two of his favorite NBA players, Dwyane Wade and Victor Oladipo, had also played for Coach Crean.

College Basketball Success at Georgia

Anthony Edwards playing for Georgia in February 2020

Anthony started his college career with the Georgia Bulldogs in November 2019. In his very first game, he scored 24 points, grabbed 9 rebounds, and made 4 steals. This was a fantastic start for a freshman!

He had many amazing games during his freshman year. In one game, he scored a season-high 37 points against a tough team, Michigan State. He was the first Georgia freshman to score that many points since 1975. Anthony was the top scorer for his team. He was also one of the best freshmen players in the whole country.

After just one year in college, Anthony decided to enter the 2020 NBA draft. Everyone knew he was a top talent.

Joining the NBA: Minnesota Timberwolves

The 2020 NBA draft was a big moment for Anthony. The Minnesota Timberwolves chose him as the very first player overall! This meant he was considered the best young player available.

First Season: All-Rookie Honors (2020–21)

Anthony made his NBA debut in December 2020. He scored 15 points in his first game. Later that season, he scored a career-high 42 points against the Phoenix Suns. He was one of the youngest players ever to score over 40 points in an NBA game. After his first year, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. This means he was one of the best new players in the league.

First Playoff Appearance (2021–22)

In his second season, Anthony kept getting better. He scored 48 points in a game against the Golden State Warriors. He also set a team record by making 10 three-pointers in one game. Anthony was the youngest NBA player ever to do this! He helped the Timberwolves reach the playoffs for the first time in a while. In his first playoff game, he scored 36 points.

Becoming an All-Star (2022–23)

Anthony became an All-Star for the first time in 2023. This is a huge honor, as only the best players are chosen. He scored a season-high 44 points against the Houston Rockets. In the playoffs, he set a new Timberwolves record for most points in a playoff game with 41 points. He showed he could perform well in important games.

All-NBA Recognition (2023–24)

Before the 2023-24 season, Anthony changed his jersey number to #5. He continued to shine, earning the NBA Western Conference Player of the Week award. He scored a career-high 51 points against the Washington Wizards. At the end of the season, he was named to the All-NBA Second Team. This means he was recognized as one of the top players in the entire league. He also led the Timberwolves to their first playoff series win in 20 years!

Leading in Three-Pointers (2024–25)

Anthony had an incredible 2024-25 season. He scored a career-high 53 points in a game and tied his record with 10 three-pointers. He also broke the Timberwolves' record for most career three-pointers. Anthony was named an All-Star for the third time in a row. He became the youngest player in NBA history to make 1,000 three-point baskets. He finished the season as the NBA's leader in three-pointers made, with 320! He helped the Timberwolves reach the Western Conference Finals.

All-Star Game MVP (2025–26)

The 2025-26 season brought even more achievements for Anthony. He set a new Timberwolves record for most career 30-point games. On January 8, 2026, he reached 10,000 career points. He was one of the youngest players in NBA history to reach this milestone, joining legends like LeBron James and Kevin Durant. Anthony scored a career-high 55 points in a game. He was named an All-Star for the fourth time. He also won the NBA All-Star Game MVP award, showing he was the best player in the All-Star Game!

Playing for Team USA

Anthony has also played for the U.S. national team. He was a key player in the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup. He was the team's top scorer, averaging 18.9 points per game. He was even chosen for the All-FIBA World Cup Team!

In 2024, Anthony was part of the U.S. Olympic team. He helped Team USA win the gold medal at the Paris Olympics! He averaged 12.8 points per game and shot very well.

Anthony Edwards' Player Profile

Anthony Edwards mainly plays as a shooting guard. He is 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighs 225 pounds. He is known for his amazing athleticism and powerful dunks. One of his dunks was even named the NBA's "Dunk of the Year" in 2023–24!

Many people compare his playing style to a young Michael Jordan. His teammate, Mike Conley, said they have similar moves, fadeaway shots, and athleticism. Anthony has also worked hard to improve his three-point shooting. He led the NBA in three-pointers made during the 2024–25 season. He also became the youngest player in NBA history to make 1,000 three-pointers.

Anthony is also a strong defender. Team USA coach Steve Kerr praised his defense. Anthony believes his defense is often overlooked. In 2024, he won the NBA Fan Favorite award for "Block of the Year" for a game-saving block.

Career Statistics

Here are some statistics from Anthony Edwards' career in the NBA and college. These numbers show how well he has played.

NBA

Regular Season Stats

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2020–21	Minnesota	72*	55	32.1	.417	.329	.776	4.7	2.9	1.1	.5	19.3
2021–22	Minnesota	72	72	34.3	.441	.357	.786	4.8	3.8	1.5	.6	21.3
2022–23	Minnesota	79	79	36.0	.459	.369	.756	5.8	4.4	1.6	.7	24.6
2023–24	Minnesota	79	78	35.1	.461	.357	.836	5.4	5.1	1.3	.5	25.9
2024–25	Minnesota	79	79	36.3	.447	.395	.837	5.7	4.5	1.2	.6	27.6
Career		381	363	34.8	.446	.364	.804	5.3	4.2	1.3	.6	23.9
All-Star		3	0	18.5	.636	.333	—	4.7	1.7	.3	.0	16.0

Playoff Stats

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2022	Minnesota	6	6	37.8	.455	.404	.824	4.2	3.0	1.2	1.2	25.2
2023	Minnesota	5	5	39.7	.482	.349	.846	5.0	5.2	1.8	2.0	31.6
2024	Minnesota	16	16	40.5	.481	.400	.814	7.0	6.5	1.5	.6	27.6
2025	Minnesota	15	15	39.0	.453	.354	.719	7.8	5.5	1.1	.7	25.3
Career		42	42	39.5	.468	.377	.788	6.6	5.5	1.4	.9	26.9

College Stats

Year	Team	GP	GS	MPG	FG%	3P%	FT%	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	PPG
2019–20	Georgia	32	32	33.0	.402	.294	.772	5.2	2.8	1.3	.6	19.1

Anthony Edwards' Personal Life

Anthony became a father in March 2024 when his daughter, Aislynn, was born. He even left a game early to be with his family for her birth.

Anthony wears the number 5 jersey to honor his mother and grandmother, who passed away when he was young. They both passed away on the fifth day of the month. After they passed, his older sister, Antoinette, and brother, Antoine, helped raise him.

In high school, Anthony enjoyed teaching kids at youth basketball camps. He also studied marketing in college. As a child, he was good at many sports, including baseball. He owns two dogs and loves lions, too!

In 2022, Anthony made his acting debut in the sports movie Hustle. He also has his own signature basketball shoe with Adidas, called the AE1. It became very popular!