The rules of the NBA are enforced but it’s obvious that star players tend to get preferential treatment, and Anthony Edwards has voiced his opinion that he’s now in that elite group of players.
Edwards picked up his fifth foul with 10:49 to go in the fourth quarter and sat for a couple of minutes before playing the final 13 minutes of regulation and overtime without fouling out. Afterward, he was asked if he had to let up on defense to avoid fouling out.
“Hell nah. They don’t wanna see me foul out,” Edwards answered, in very Michael Jordan-like fashion. “That’s how I was looking at it. I’m telling [head coach Chris Finch], they foul me out, that’s on them. I feel like they don’t wanna see me foul out. So I still was playing aggressive.”
Anthony Edwards addressed the media after the win over the Boston Celtics. 🔊#RaisedByWolves | #NBA pic.twitter.com/UDa9uMrRxE
— FanDuel Sports Network North (@FanDuelSN_NOR) November 7, 2023
Edwards scored 38 points to go along with nine rebounds and seven assists. Eight of his points came in overtime and Minnesota left Target Center with a 114-109 win over the Boston Celtics.
What’s interesting is that Karl-Anthony Towns, who is one of just over a dozen NBA players with a supermax contract, didn’t get star treatment. He had three fouls early in the second quarter and wound up fouling out with 3:56 left in overtime.
Through six games, Edwards is off to a blistering-hot start, averaging 28.2 points on 52% shooting including 47.2% from 3-point range. He’s also adding 6.7 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game.
Boston was averaging 126.4 points per game and 5-0 before running into the Wolves’ No. 1 defense. Denver was also undefeated before getting blown out by Minnesota last week.
Edwards and the Wolves have another tough test Wednesday when they host Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans.
