"Fu*k 'em": Anthony Edwards delivers blunt reply for those questioning his shooting desire
Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards does not want to talk to critics of his high-volume 3-point shooting this NBA season. In five games so far, Edwards has led the league in 3-point attempts with 13.4 shots per game.
Due to his high volume, Edwards also led the league in most threes made per game with 5.8, as he shoots 43.3 percent from the long range. At this pace, Edwards eclipses James Harden’s record of 13.2 3-point attempts per game he posted in the 2018-2019 season.
Anthony Edwards, who has led the Timberwolves to a 3-2 record, had a short and straightforward response when asked if he cares about those who think he is taking too many shots from downtown.
“Fu*k ‘em,” said Edwards.
With Edwards’ increased 3-point volume, the Timberwolves jumped to the top-six in most outside shot attempts in the first five games with 41.8 attempts. This comes after finishing last season ranked 17th in 3-point rate. Minnesota is also fifth in the league this season so far in 3-point makes with 16.8.
In their most recent game versus the Denver Nuggets, the Timberwolves shot 18-of-42 from deep range, shooting 10 more 3-point attempts than the Nuggets. Edwards finished that game with 29 points on 11-of-23 shooting from the field, including an impressive 7-of-14 from behind the 3-point line.
Anthony Edwards’ 14 attempts against the Nuggets doubled teammate Donte DiVincenzo, who put up the second-most 3-point shots attempted in the game with seven. Edwards has shot no less than 12 3-point attempts in every game so far. He also makes no less than five threes per game. He is also shooting more threes this season than twos.
The Wolves’ perimeter-centric approach on offense and Edwards’ inflated 3-point volume came just a season after the team traded Karl Anthony-Towns, who regarded himself as the best 3-point shooting big ever, for Julius Randle, a 33.5-percent career 3-point shooter in just 3.5 attempts per game.
Looking at Anthony Edwards’ career 3-point numbers
Anthony Edwards has been in the league for five seasons already, but he was mostly known as an athletic slasher more than a 3-point threat. Edwards shot 7.2 attempts from the three in his rookie season, followed by 8.4, 7.3, and 6.7 attempts in the ensuing years, before doubling it up this season.
The two-time All-Star has also not eclipsed the 37-percent threshold in his 3-point percentage. It is only this season that Edwards has shot over 40 percent from long range.
In the past decade, the NBA has seen the rise of high-volume 3-point shooters such as Stephen Curry, Damian Lillard, Klay Thompson, and James Harden, among others.