The Los Angeles Lakers and Minnesota Timberwolves tipped off their highly anticipated opening round playoff series on Saturday night as the Purple and Gold fell victim to a hot shooting Timberwolves roster.
While these games are always fueled with intensity from the players and the fans, one member of Minnesota's roster went overboard with his trash talk during Game 1 and the league disciplined him for it on Tuesday afternoon. All-Star guard Anthony Edwards is officially $50,000 lighter in his pocket after being fined for his role in a shouting match with a fan at Crypto.com Arena which led to the Timberwolves star to scream a profanity at the crowd that was caught on video.
Edwards was ultimately fined for "directing inappropriate language and making an obscene gesture toward a fan" after the incident in question occurred with 4:33 seconds remaining in the third quarter.
For as talented as Edwards his, his behavior on and off of the floor has left plenty to be desired and instances like what we saw in Game 1 when the former No. 1 overall pick sprinted well beyond the line with his choice of words during the back-and-forth with a fan during a break in the action only reinforce that belief.
With this latest fine from the NBA, Edwards has been forced to pay over $300,000 this season alone as a result of disciplinary actions from the NBA for his actions. It is rather insane to think that this was something Edwards thought he could get away with in this day and age, in Los Angeles of all places, when everyone has a camera in their pocket.
At the end of the day, fines will only teach Edwards so much of a lesson, given his contract status with the Timberwolves moving forward. His immaturity will hurt Minnesota on the hardwood, though, if he keeps this up, which appears to be the plan for Edwards as he has yet to change his ways this season, and LeBron James, Luke Doncic, and company will be ready to capitalize on that when the time comes.
The Lakers will play host to the Timberwolves on Tuesday night for Game 2 of their best-of-seven series as the Purple and Gold look to even the series in Los Angeles before the setting shifts to the Twin Cities for Games 3 and 4.
We'll find out soon enough whether or not the crowd at Crypto.com Arena can get into Edwards' head once again when the two sides take the floor Tuesday night.