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Despite being an American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the NBA, Anthony Edwards has made some interesting comments regarding his feelings towards the sport. In an interview with ESPN's Alex Scarborough, Edwards claimed that he is “not really into basketball and that it feels more like a job to him. He has also stated that he would leave the NBA for the NFL if given the chance. However, Edwards has proven to be a successful basketball player, being a three-time NBA All-Star and a two-time All-NBA Second Team selection.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Anthony Edwards |
| Nicknames | Ant-Man, Ant |
| Profession | American professional basketball player |
| Current Team | Minnesota Timberwolves, NBA |
| Position | Shooting guard |
| Jersey Number | 5 |
| Draft | First overall pick by the Timberwolves in the 2020 NBA draft |
| Achievements | Three-time NBA All-Star, two-time All-NBA Second Team selection, gold medal with the 2024 U.S. Olympic team, SEC Freshman of the Year, McDonald's All-American, USA Today All-USA first team honors |
| Comments on Basketball | "I can't watch basketball", "I'm not really into it", "It's a job", "Basketball is my heart, but football is where I started" |
| Other Sports | Football (played as a running back, quarterback, and cornerback), baseball |
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What You'll Learn
Anthony Edwards says basketball is more of an occupation than a love
In an interview with ESPN's Alex Scarborough, Anthony Edwards, an American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association (NBA), revealed that he feels ""not really into" basketball. He elaborated on this by saying that basketball is more of an occupation than a love. Edwards's comments came just hours before he was selected as the first overall pick by the Timberwolves in the 2020 NBA draft.
Edwards's statement caused a stir, as it is unusual for a potential top pick in a professional sports draft to express a lack of passion for the sport. However, Edwards has proven that he takes his job seriously, even if he doesn't consider himself a fan of the game. He has had a successful career in the NBA, becoming a three-time NBA All-Star, a two-time All-NBA Second Team selection, and winning a gold medal with the 2024 U.S. Olympic team.
In the interview, Edwards clarified his feelings towards the sport, saying, "I love basketball, yeah ... basketball is my heart, but football is where I started, so I'll never forget about that. But don't get me wrong, basketball is my No. 1 because I feel like it's going to get me through a lot of the stuff I need to get through." He further added, "It's what I do. It's a job. I feel like I'm working right now. I love it."
Edwards's trainer, Justin Holland, provided additional context to Edwards's comments, explaining that Edwards isn't a big fan of watching basketball games and prefers playing the sport. Edwards himself has expressed a preference for football, citing the freedom it gives athletes to celebrate and express themselves on the field. Despite his comments about basketball being an occupation, Edwards's dedication and success in the sport are undeniable.
It is worth noting that Edwards's perspective on basketball may have been influenced by his personal life. After losing his mother and grandmother to cancer in 2015, Edwards was raised by his sister and brother. He has also worn the No. 5 jersey since high school to honor their memory, as they both passed away on the fifth day of the month. Edwards's early life and experiences may have shaped his approach to his athletic career, contributing to his view of basketball as a job or occupation.
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Edwards has proven he takes his job seriously
Despite his comments about his feelings towards basketball, Anthony Edwards has proven that he takes his job as a professional basketball player seriously. In the 2020 NBA Draft, Edwards stated that he was “not really into” basketball and that he saw it more as a job or occupation than a love. He also expressed a preference for football, citing the freedom it gives athletes to celebrate and express themselves on the field.
However, Edwards' performance on the court and his dedication to his craft suggest that he takes his basketball career seriously. He was selected as the first overall pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2020 NBA Draft, becoming the first player in NBA history to record a stat line of at least 40 points, 9 rebounds, 3 blocks, 3 steals, and 5 three-pointers in a single game. He has since gone on to break multiple franchise records and has been named to multiple All-Star games.
Edwards' work ethic and commitment to improvement are also indicators that he takes his job seriously. He began training with basketball trainer Justin Holland at a young age and has consistently improved his skills, becoming one of the top players in the league. His success on the court and impact on his team speak to his dedication and professionalism.
In addition to his on-court performance, Edwards has also demonstrated his commitment to his job through his work in the community. He has frequently worked as an instructor at youth camps and has expressed a desire to major in marketing while attending the University of Georgia. These actions show that Edwards is invested in his personal growth and in giving back to the next generation of basketball players.
While Edwards may have caused a stir with his pre-draft comments about his feelings towards basketball, his subsequent actions and achievements speak to his dedication and seriousness about his career. He has proven that one can excel in a sport even without having a deep-rooted passion for it, and his success serves as a testament to his work ethic and professionalism.
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He chose basketball over football because it looked more fun
Anthony Edwards, nicknamed "Ant-Man" or simply "Ant," is an American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He was born on August 5, 2001, and grew up in Oakland City, Atlanta, Georgia. During his childhood, Edwards excelled in multiple sports, including baseball and football. He often played the latter with his brothers and was a standout running back, quarterback, and cornerback for the Atlanta Vikings youth football team. By the age of 10, he had become one of the best Pop Warner running backs in the country.
Despite his early success in football, Edwards eventually shifted his focus to basketball. He was drawn to the sport after watching his brothers play and thinking it "looked more fun." This decision proved to be a pivotal one, as Edwards went on to become a highly-rated basketball player in his own right. He trained with Justin Holland, a former college basketball player, and excelled with the Atlanta Xpress 15-under Amateur Athletic Union team, leading to his ranking as a four-star recruit by Rivals in 2016.
Edwards continued to showcase his talent during his high school career at Holy Spirit Preparatory School in Atlanta, Georgia. He wore the No. 5 jersey to honor his mother, Yvette, and grandmother, Shirley, who both passed away on the fifth day of the month in 2015. As a senior, he earned prestigious honors, including McDonald's All-American and USA Today All-USA first team, and committed to play college basketball for the University of Georgia, becoming their highest-rated recruit.
While Edwards' talent and success in basketball are undeniable, he has made controversial comments about his passion for the sport. In an interview with ESPN just before the 2020 NBA Draft, Edwards stated that he was “not really into” basketball, considering it more of an occupation than a love. He expressed his preference for football, citing the freedom it gives athletes to celebrate and display their emotions on the field. Despite these comments, Edwards has proven his dedication to basketball, becoming a three-time NBA All-Star and achieving numerous records and accolades throughout his career with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
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Edwards is a three-time NBA All-Star
While Anthony Edwards has said that he is "not really into" basketball, his impressive career stats suggest otherwise. Nicknamed "Ant-Man" or "Ant", Edwards is an American professional basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves of the NBA. He is a three-time NBA All-Star, having been named to the All-Star Game as a Western Conference reserve in 2022, 2023, and 2024.
In his first All-Star Game in 2022, Edwards had already established himself as a record-breaking player. On January 25, 2022, he became the first player in NBA history to record a stat line of at least 40 points, 9 rebounds, 3 blocks, 3 steals, and 5 three-pointers in a single game. Later that year, on November 13, 2022, he was named the NBA Western Conference Player of the Week for leading Minnesota to an undefeated week.
Edwards continued his impressive form into 2023. On January 25, he surpassed Karl-Anthony Towns for the most career three-pointers in Timberwolves franchise history. Just a few days later, on January 30, he was named to his second All-Star Game. On February 5, he recorded 49 points, 20 of which came in the third quarter, and 9 rebounds in a win over the Chicago Bulls. This was one of several notable performances that month, including a season-high 44 points against the Houston Rockets on January 21 and a career-high 51 points against the Washington Wizards on April 9.
Edwards' success continued into 2024. On February 10, he was named to his third All-Star Game, solidifying his status as a three-time NBA All-Star. While his career is still relatively young, Edwards has already established himself as one of the NBA's brightest stars, with numerous records and accolades to his name. Despite his previous comments about his relationship with basketball, Edwards has proven his dedication to the sport and consistently performs at an elite level.
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He was selected first overall by the Timberwolves in the 2020 NBA draft
In 2020, the NBA draft was originally scheduled to be held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was instead held at ESPN's facilities in Bristol, Connecticut, and conducted via videoconferencing. The Timberwolves held the first pick in the 2020 NBA draft and selected Anthony Edwards.
Edwards, a Georgia native, was a highly-rated prospect coming into the draft. Despite his talent, he made some interesting comments regarding his feelings about basketball just hours before the draft. In an interview with ESPN Alex Scarborough, Edwards stated that he was “not really into” basketball, and that it felt more like a job to him. He also mentioned that he preferred football, as it was his first sport, and he appreciated the freedom it gave athletes to celebrate and express themselves on the field.
Despite these comments, the Timberwolves selected Edwards with the first overall pick. This decision may have been influenced by their belief that Edwards took his job seriously, even if he didn't outwardly show a strong passion for the sport. It is worth noting that Edwards clarified his comments by saying that basketball was still his number one sport because he felt it would help him achieve his goals.
The 2020 NBA draft was unique due to the pandemic restrictions, and it was the first draft since 1975 to be held outside of June. The Timberwolves' selection of Edwards with the first overall pick demonstrates their confidence in his abilities and potential, even with his controversial pre-draft comments about his relationship with the sport.
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Frequently asked questions
Anthony Edwards has had a successful career in basketball and is a three-time NBA All-Star. However, he has stated that he is “not really into” basketball and that he sees it as more of an occupation than a love. He has also said that he prefers football.
No, he played football as a child and was one of the best Pop Warner running backs in the country by the age of 10. He switched his focus to basketball because he "thought it looked more fun" after watching his brothers play.
Anthony Edwards is a shooting guard.
Anthony Edwards played college basketball for the Georgia Bulldogs and was selected as the first overall pick by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2020 NBA draft.
No, but he has expressed an interest in football and baseball. He has also said that if given the chance, he would leave the NBA for the NFL.
