Reports from ESPN’s Shams Charania indicate that Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards requires an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee, as of Tuesday.
The exact details surrounding Edwards’ injury remain unclear, but he has been dealing with it since last season and into the early part of the current campaign.
According to Charania’s update, Edwards is anticipated to be sidelined for approximately two months. The Athletic’s Jon Krawczynski later reported on Tuesday that Edwards is scheduled for surgery on Thursday, and there is a belief that his recovery may extend beyond two months.
The Timberwolves have yet to officially endorse the planned procedure.
What are the issues with Ant’s knee?
During last season’s playoffs, Edwards played through a chronic issue identified as runner’s knee. His performance took a hit as he dealt with an additional injury to his left knee, which caused him to miss part of the first round against the Nuggets. Although he returned for a second-round series against the Spurs, he wasn’t at his usual level.
Edwards indicated that his offseason was focused on rest and recovery, but he appeared to struggle with his right knee during the first few games of the season.
According to the Athletic, he “tweaked” his knee during Minnesota’s victory in the season opener against the Miami Heat. Just two games later, he was seen clutching his right knee in pain following a collision in a win over the Raptors on Sunday.
He was marked as questionable for Monday’s matchup against the Cavaliers due to right knee injury management, yet he still played 41 minutes, scoring 47 points. Initially, he was also listed as questionable for Wednesday’s game against the Golden State Warriors, which he will now be unable to participate in.
A significant challenge for Edwards, Wolves, NBA
This development poses a significant challenge for one of the brightest talents in the sport and for a Timberwolves team currently at 3-1, aiming to elevate itself to championship contention this season. Minnesota has reached the Western Conference finals in two of the past three years, but is striving to reach the NBA Finals while Edwards is in his prime.
During the offseason, they restructured their lineup around Edwards, trading away key players like Naz Reid and Julius Randle, while securing All-Star point guard LaMelo Ball from the Charlotte Hornets.
In the opening four games, the newly assembled roster had shown promise, with Edwards excelling as a scorer in conjunction with Ball’s explosive playmaking. Edwards was averaging 33.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2 steals per game, while shooting 40% on 11.3 three-point attempts in the fresh offensive scheme.
With Edwards and Ball spearheading their efforts, Minnesota’s scoring offense has been among the most thrilling in the league, averaging 122 points per game, which ranks fourth in the NBA. As of Tuesday, Minnesota’s point differential of 17 was the second-best in the league.
Now, the Timberwolves are facing the prospect of potentially being without Edwards for the remainder of the year, hoping that he can return from surgery in top form to aid their playoff ambitions in the West.
Meanwhile, Ball is expected to take on a greater scoring responsibility, and Ayo Dosunmu might be moved up to the starting lineup from the bench.
