The Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards fined ,000 for “publicly criticizing” referees, calling them “fucking terrible.”
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The Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards fined $75,000 for “publicly criticizing” referees, calling them “fucking terrible.”

Posted on by Amelia Pressman

Anthony Edwards donated a lot of money to the NBA in the last two months of the year. But in fines, not in donations.

The Minnesota Timberwolves star was again fined by the league, this time $75,000. According to Joe Dumars, head of NBA basketball operations, the punishment was imposed because of “public criticism of officiating and the use of inappropriate and profane language.”

Edwards’ comments came after Minnesota’s 113-103 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Saturday.

“They’re fucking awful. Everyone except the woman,” Edwards told reporters at his locker. “But the other two guys, terrible. Excuses for the reason they call a foul, the reason they don’t call a foul. That was terrible.”

“They don’t want to talk to my coach, they don’t want to talk to me,” he added. “One thing I told the referee, he gave me a technician. Motherf***er told one of my teammates that if I had said, ‘You’re making a bad foul,’ he wouldn’t have given me one.” Technique. They’re just sensitive and they’re terrible…They punish me and (Julius Randle) for being stronger than our opponent every night. So yeah, that’s how I feel about officials. every game we play.”

Sean Wright, Sean Corbin and Simone Jelks made up the refereeing team for Saturday’s match.

Edwards only attempted four free throws in the game, making three of them, which was likely the reason for his tirade. The Timberwolves had 25 foul shots and the Warriors had 23, so there was no significant difference between the two teams. But what wasn’t called was clearly a problem, in Edwards’ view. He was also whistled for four personal fouls in the game.

The fine imposed on Edwards is the NBA’s second in two weeks. He was also fined $25,000 after a December 8 game, also against Golden State, for using profanity – not in criticism of officials, but in praise of his teammates’ defense.

Edwards has been fined by the league three times in the past five weeks, totaling $135,000. On Nov. 17, the former No. 1 overall pick was fined $35,000 for giving the middle finger to a fan in Sacramento. What provoked Edwards to make the gesture was not reported, but he was apparently motivated by Minnesota assistant coach Corliss Williamson, who said he played “softly.” There was no profanity or anger toward officers involved in the incident.

The Timberwolves begin a three-game road trip Monday night against the Atlanta Hawks before facing the Dallas Mavericks on Christmas Day. The trip ends with a Friday contest with the Houston Rockets.

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