Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards will undergo surgery on his right knee on Thursday and could be out for up to two months, according to international media reports on Tuesday. Anthony Edwards knee surgery follows a 47-point performance on the same injured knee, a night that showed both his talent and the risk he was carrying.
Edwards played 41 minutes and scored 47 points in Monday’s 127-125 overtime defeat against the Cleveland Cavaliers, despite being listed as questionable because of his knee problem. He first felt discomfort in his right knee during Sunday’s win over the Toronto Raptors.
Anthony Edwards knee surgery: what the reports say
ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that Edwards will undergo an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee on Thursday, with a recovery period of up to two months. The Athletic, cited in later coverage, put the expected absence at at least two months. The two reports differ in wording, but they agree on the central point: Minnesota will be without its leading scorer for an extended stretch.
Timberwolves coach Chris Finch had first described the problem as a “daily situation” and said he was not worried about a long-term injury. Edwards was cleared to play after warm-ups in Cleveland and delivered his second 45-point performance of the season.
He became the fourth player in NBA history to score at least 45 points twice in his team’s first four games. Through those four games, he averaged 33.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists on 48 per cent shooting, the second-best scoring average in the league behind Luka Doncic’s 34.3.
A knee with a history
The injury is not new. Edwards struggled with runner’s knee in the same leg last season, missing nine of Minnesota’s final 22 regular-season games. He later suffered a hyperextended left knee during the first round of the play-offs. In all, he missed 21 games last season, the most in his career, although Minnesota still went 12-9 without him.
During the close season, Edwards said he took time off to let his knees heal and reported no knee issues during training camp. That makes the current setback harder to take for Minnesota: the problem has returned within the first week of the new season, at the very moment he was playing the best basketball of his career.
A two-month absence could also prevent Edwards from reaching the 65-game requirement for MVP and All-NBA honours. That would affect his eligibility for a potential four-year, $304 million supermax contract extension next summer.
What happens next
His manager, Justin Holland, said individual honours are not the focus. “It’s not about individual accolades, All-NBAs, or anything like that,” Holland said. “It’s a single focus, winning a championship.” He added that the team could achieve big things when everyone was fully fit.
Minnesota, 3-1 after the Cleveland defeat, were due to host Golden State on Wednesday. In the short term, teammates such as Jaden McDaniels will carry a bigger scoring load while Edwards recovers. The club’s priority, according to the reporting, is to have him fully fit for the second half of the campaign rather than rush him back.
For Edwards, the surgery draws a line under a remarkable week: two 45-point games, a place in NBA history, and a knee that finally forced a decision.
Frequently asked questions
When will Anthony Edwards have surgery?
He is due to undergo an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee on Thursday, October 29, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania.
How long will he be out?
ESPN reported up to two months, while The Athletic put the expected absence at at least two months. Either way, Minnesota face an extended period without their leading scorer.
How did he get injured?
He first felt discomfort in his right knee during Sunday’s home win over Toronto, then played 41 minutes and scored 47 points at Cleveland on Monday despite being listed as questionable.
Will this affect his contract?
A long absence could keep him below the 65-game threshold for MVP and All-NBA honours, which would affect his eligibility for a potential four-year, $304 million supermax extension next summer.
