Before the Denver Nuggets and the Minnesota Timberwolves go head-to-head on Saturday afternoon for Game 1 of the NBA Playoffs, the star guard Anthony Edwards landed bad news from the league.
It was revealed that Edwards was one of three NBA stars to file an exception for the NBA’s 65-game minimum rule for awards eligibility.
In a joint statement released by the NBA and NBPA on Thursday, it was confirmed that Los Angeles Lakers guard Luka Doncic and Detroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham were approved. Edwards, on the other hand, was not.
“Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, who played in 60 qualified games, filed an extraordinary circumstances challenge under the CBA, seeking award eligibility before an independent arbitrator. Edwards’ challenge was denied, and as a result, he is not eligible for annual awards for the 2025-2026 NBA regular season.” via the press release.
The Denver Nuggets Are Getting A Fueled Anthony Edwards
Edwards is already one of the NBA’s most outspoken young competitors. He didn’t need added fuel to be motivated heading into the playoffs.
Yet, he still has great bulletin board material from the league, as he’ll inevitably miss all seasonal honors with his request denied.
This season, Edwards appeared in 61 games for the Timberwolves. He shot 48.9% from the field and 39.9% from three to average 28.8 points per game.
Along with his scoring, Edwards came down with 5.0 rebounds per game and produced 3.7 assists per game.
The Timberwolves finished the year with a 49-33 record. They placed sixth in the Western Conference.
Anthony Edwards’ History Against The Nuggets
Edwards has faced the Nuggets 22 times throughout his career.
Since 2021, Edwards has averaged 24.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game when facing Denver. He holds a 12-10 record against the Nuggets during the regular season.
The Nuggets-Timberwolves showdown will begin on Saturday, April 18. The game tips off at 3:30 PM ET.