Anthony Edwards: The Complete Biography of “Ant-Man” — Minnesota's Superstar
Full Name: Anthony Jamal Edwards | Born: August 5, 2001, Atlanta, Georgia, USA | Position: Shooting Guard | Team (2025–26): Minnesota Timberwolves | Jersey Number: 5 | Nickname: Ant-Man (Ant)
Anthony Edwards — known as “Ant-Man” — is one of the most explosive, exciting, and charismatic players in the NBA today. His combination of thunderous dunks, pull-up three-pointers, and high-energy defense has made him the face of the Minnesota Timberwolves and one of the most compelling young stars in global basketball. In the 2025–26 season, he averaged 28.8 points per game — third in the NBA — while drilling 3.4 three-pointers per game and leading his team deep into the playoffs.
Early Life: Atlanta, Georgia
Anthony Edwards was born on August 5, 2001, in the Oakland City neighborhood of Atlanta, Georgia, to Chrisha Yvette Edwards and Roger Caruth. His father — largely absent from Anthony’s life — was reportedly a gifted basketball player and gave Anthony his famous nickname “Ant-Man” when he was just three years old. Anthony grew up alongside siblings Antoine, Bubba, and his older sister Antoinette.
His early childhood was marked by profound tragedy. Both his mother, Chrisha, and his grandmother, Shirley Edwards, who had raised him together, died of cancer. Heartbreakingly, both passed away on the 5th day of different months — a loss so personal that Edwards later chose to wear jersey number 5 as a tribute to them. After losing his mother and grandmother, Anthony was raised by his older siblings, who stepped up to support his education and sports journey.
Growing up in Atlanta, Edwards was initially best known for his football exploits as a running back. By the time he was 11 years old, there was already a YouTube video of his Pop Warner football highlights going viral. He played multiple positions — running back, quarterback, cornerback — and was considered one of the most gifted young athletes in Georgia. He did not fully commit to basketball until age 10, when he watched his brothers play and fell in love with the game.
High School Career: Dominating Georgia
Edwards initially attended Therrell High School in Atlanta, where he quickly emerged as one of the top players in the country. He later transferred to Holy Spirit Preparatory School in Atlanta, where he averaged an extraordinary 29 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 assists per game in his final season. Holy Spirit Prep won the Georgia state championship in 2018 during his time there. Edwards was rated a consensus five-star recruit and named one of the best players in the nation, earning McDonald’s All-American and USA Today All-USA First Team honors. He was the highest-rated recruit to ever commit to the University of Georgia.
College Career: Georgia Bulldogs (2019–20)
Edwards chose the University of Georgia for college, wanting to remain close to his family in Atlanta. During his lone freshman season (2019–20), he was immediately the team’s best player, leading all Division I freshmen in scoring with 19.1 points per game, while adding 5.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists. He was named SEC Freshman of the Year. His explosive athleticism and shotmaking ability dazzled scouts throughout the season.
After the NCAA Tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Edwards declared for the 2020 NBA Draft. The decision was straightforward — he was the consensus top prospect in the country.
NBA Draft: #1 Overall Pick (2020)
In November 2020, the Minnesota Timberwolves selected Anthony Edwards with the first overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft — the first time in franchise history the Timberwolves had held the top selection since Karl-Anthony Towns in 2015. Edwards became the most important player the franchise had drafted in years.
He made his NBA debut on December 23, 2020, scoring 15 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists in a 111–101 win over the Detroit Pistons. On March 18, 2021, he scored a then-career-high 42 points against the Phoenix Suns, becoming the third-youngest player in NBA history to score 40 or more points in a game. After his first season, he was named to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. He also became the fourth player to score at least 2,000 points, 400 rebounds, and 300 assists in his first 100 career games, joining LeBron James, Blake Griffin, and Luka Dončić.
Rapid Development and Playoff Emergence (2021–2024)
Edwards made rapid strides each season. In November 2021, he scored 48 points on 7 three-pointers against the Golden State Warriors. In December 2021, he set a Timberwolves franchise record with 10 three-pointers in a single game, becoming the youngest NBA player ever to achieve that. On April 7, 2022, he dropped 49 points against the San Antonio Spurs — a career high at the time.
In his first NBA playoff appearance in 2022, Edwards scored 36 points in Game 1 against the Memphis Grizzlies. He was named an All-Star for the first time in February 2023. In the 2023–24 season, Edwards averaged a career-high 25.9 points per game, made his second All-Star team, and posted a 51-point game against the Washington Wizards. He led the Timberwolves to their first Western Conference Finals appearance in 20 years, putting up back-to-back 40-point playoff games — joining Kobe Bryant as the only players ever to do so at age 22 or younger in the playoffs. He was named to the All-NBA Second Team at season’s end.
In the summer of 2024, Edwards won an Olympic gold medal representing Team USA at the Paris Olympics — a milestone for a player rapidly becoming one of the faces of American basketball.
2025–26 Season
In 2025–26, Edwards averaged 28.8 points per game across 61 games, firmly establishing himself as the third-best scorer in the NBA. He shot a sizzling 3.4 three-pointers per game, continuing his development as one of the most versatile scoring threats in the league. He led the Timberwolves into the second round of the playoffs, where they faced off against the San Antonio Spurs.
Personal Life
Edwards is known for his infectious personality — humorous, unfiltered, and relatable. His interviews frequently go viral for their candid, comedic nature. Off the court, he is deeply committed to giving back: he supports youth programs in Atlanta and engages with community outreach through the Timberwolves. He made a film appearance in the 2022 Netflix movie Hustle alongside Adam Sandler, playing a villain character that critics praised enthusiastically.
Awards and Achievements
- NBA All-Rookie First Team (2020–21)
- Four-time NBA All-Star
- Two-time All-NBA Second Team
- Olympic Gold Medal with Team USA (2024 Paris Olympics)
- SEC Freshman of the Year (Georgia, 2019–20)
- McDonald’s All-American (2019)
- First Timberwolves player to lead team to Western Conference Finals in 20 years
- Youngest player in NBA history with 10 three-pointers in a game
2025–26 Season Stats
| Category | Stat |
|---|---|
| Points Per Game | 28.8 (NBA #3) |
| 3-Pointers Per Game | 3.4 |
| Rebounds Per Game | ~5+ |
| Games Played | 61 |
| Team Record | 49-33 (Minnesota) |
Anthony Edwards is the future of the NBA. A man who lost so much so young, and channeled every ounce of that pain into becoming one of the most electrifying players on Earth. Ant-Man is only getting started.