Anthony Edwards to Undergo Knee Surgery, Likely Out for Two Months or More

Anthony Edwards, star guard for the Minnesota Timberwolves, will need arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, according to ESPN's Shams Charania. The procedure could sideline him for up to two months or potentially longer.

Details of the Injury and Timeline

The exact nature of Edwards' knee problem remains unclear, but it has been a nagging issue since last season and has persisted into this year. Charania noted Edwards is anticipated to miss around two months. Later reports from The Athletic's Jon Krawczynski indicated the surgery is scheduled for Thursday, with expectations now leaning toward a recovery time beyond two months. The Timberwolves have yet to officially confirm the upcoming surgery.

What’s Affecting Edwards’ Knee?

Edwards battled through a chronic condition called runner’s knee during last year's playoffs. His performance suffered partly because of this and also due to a separate left knee injury that caused him to miss part of the first-round series against the Denver Nuggets. Though he returned for the second-round loss to the Spurs, he was visibly limited.

In the offseason, Edwards focused on rest and healing, but his right knee problems were evident early in the new season. According to The Athletic, he aggravated the knee during Minnesota’s opening win over the Miami Heat. Just two games later, after a collision in a win against the Toronto Raptors, he grabbed his right knee in pain.

Edwards was listed as questionable for Monday’s game versus the Cleveland Cavaliers because of knee management but still played 41 minutes, scoring 47 points. He was also initially doubtful for Wednesday’s game against the Golden State Warriors, which he will now miss.

Impact on Timberwolves and Season Outlook

This news is a tough setback for one of the league’s brightest young stars and for the Timberwolves, who started the season 3-1 with championship aspirations. Minnesota has reached the Western Conference Finals twice in the past three seasons but aims to break through to the NBA Finals while Edwards is in his prime.

The team reshaped its roster around Edwards this offseason, trading away longtime players Naz Reid and Julius Randle and acquiring All-Star point guard LaMelo Ball from Charlotte. Through four games, the new lineup looked promising, with Edwards averaging 33.3 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2 steals per game, shooting 40% on 11.3 three-point attempts in the revamped offense.

With Edwards and Ball leading, Minnesota’s offense ranked among the league’s most exciting, scoring 122 points per game—the fourth-highest in the NBA—and boasting an average point differential of +17, second-best in the league at the time.

Now the Timberwolves may face the challenge of playing without Edwards for the remainder of the calendar year, hoping he recovers fully from surgery in time to help secure a playoff spot. Meanwhile, Ball will likely assume a larger scoring role, and Ayo Dosunmu might be inserted into the starting lineup from the bench.