Minneapolis, Minnesota: Anthony Edwards to Have Knee Surgery Thursday, Out Up to Two Months

The Minnesota Timberwolves will be without Anthony Edwards for up to two months after the guard undergoes arthroscopic surgery on his right knee on Thursday, ESPN reported on Tuesday. The report, from ESPN reporter Shams Charania citing sources, landed one day after Edwards played a season-high 41 minutes and scored 47 points in a 127 to 125 overtime loss at Cleveland.

Edwards had been listed as questionable before the Monday game in Cleveland, the second night of a back-to-back. He was cleared after pregame warmups and produced his second game of at least 45 points this season. ESPN Research noted that he is the fourth player in NBA history with multiple 45-point games in his team's first four games of a season.

The knee that would not settle

Edwards began grabbing at his right knee during Minnesota's home opener against Toronto on Sunday. Coach Chris Finch called the problem a daily situation before the Cleveland game and said at the time that he was not worried about a long-term concern.

The right knee has troubled Edwards before. He dealt with runner's knee in the same leg last season and missed nine of the Timberwolves' final 22 regular-season games while managing it. He missed 21 games in all last season, the most of his career, and Minnesota went 12 and 9 without him. In the first round of the playoffs he hyperextended his left knee and suffered a bone bruise, without ligament damage. He then took about two months off over the summer to let his knees heal without surgery, and he reported no knee problems during training camp or the preseason.

The start Minnesota loses

Edwards, 25, was off to the best start of his career. Through four games he averaged 33.3 points, second in the league behind Luka Doncic at 34.3, with 4.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists while shooting 48.1 percent from the field and 40.0 percent from three-point range. Minnesota is 3 and 1.

A four-time All-Star and two-time All-NBA Second Team selection, Edwards was the first overall pick in the 2020 draft and is in his seventh season with Minnesota. His career averages are 24.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 446 games, and he has made 1,332 three-pointers at a 37 percent rate.

What the absence costs

Missing two months would keep Edwards from reaching the 65-game threshold required for MVP and All-NBA honors. Either honor would have made him eligible to sign a four-year, $304 million supermax extension next summer, with the first year of that deal beginning in 2029-30, according to ESPN figures reported by TSN. NBC Sports reported that a return sooner than eight weeks is possible, depending on what doctors find during the procedure, which could bring him back around Christmas at the latest.

His manager, Justin Holland, told ESPN that the decision was not driven by awards. "It's not about individual accolades, All-NBAs, or anything like that," Holland said. "It's a single focus, winning a championship."

Minnesota hosts the Golden State Warriors at Target Center in Minneapolis on Wednesday night. Without Edwards, more of the scoring load falls to LaMelo Ball and Jaden McDaniels, who have both opened the season in larger roles.