NBA Shocker: Timberwolves Star Anthony Edwards Sidelined for Months with Knee Injury!

Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards is scheduled to undergo an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee on Thursday. This surgical intervention is expected to sideline him for up to two months, according to sources close to ESPN's Shams Charania. The injury surfaced during the Timberwolves' recent home opener victory against the Toronto Raptors, where Edwards began experiencing discomfort in his right knee.

Despite being listed as questionable on the Wolves' injury report prior to Monday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers – the second night of a back-to-back – Edwards demonstrated remarkable resilience. He played a season-high 41 minutes and delivered an impressive 47 points in a narrow 127-125 overtime loss. Wolves coach Chris Finch initially downplayed the severity of the issue, labeling it a "daily situation" and stating he wasn't concerned about a long-term problem. However, following pregame warmups, Edwards was cleared to play, going on to achieve his second 45-point game of the season. This feat makes him only the fourth player in NBA history to record multiple 45-point games within his team's first four contests.

This isn't Edwards' first encounter with knee troubles. Last season, he dealt with runner's knee in the same leg, an issue that forced him to miss nine of the team's final 22 regular-season games. He later suffered a hyperextended left knee during the first-round playoff series. In total, Edwards missed 21 games last season, marking the most absences in his career. Despite his absence, the Timberwolves managed to maintain their competitive edge, posting a 12-9 record without him. During the preseason, Edwards had expressed confidence in his knee health, stating he took time off during the summer to allow his knees to heal and had reported no issues throughout training camp.

Edwards was enjoying the best start to his career this season, averaging 33.3 points per game – ranking second in the league only behind Luka Doncic's 34.3 points – along with 4.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists, all while shooting 48% from the field through his initial four games. The potential two-month absence carries significant implications for his future. Missing this amount of time would likely prevent Edwards from reaching the 65-game threshold required for MVP and All-NBA honors. Achieving either of these accolades would have made him eligible to sign a lucrative four-year, $304 million supermax extension next summer, with the deal commencing in the 2029-30 season.

Despite the individual financial implications, Edwards' manager, Justin Holland, emphasized a different priority. "It's not about individual accolades, All-NBAs, or anything like that," Holland told ESPN. "It's a single focus -- winning a championship. We've seen in a short time what the team is capable of, and know big things are ahead when all are 100%." Information from ESPN Research and ESPN's Bobby Marks contributed to this report.