Anthony Edwards is just another young budding star in the state of Minnesota sports who is blossoming right before our eyes in 2021 and, he too, is getting rewarded this week for an incredible month of April. This afternoon, the NBA named the Minnesota Timberwolves wing as the Western Conference Rookie of the Month. The former Georgia Bulldog has now won the award in two-straight months.
NBA West and East Rookies of Month for April: Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards and Raptors guard Malachi Flynn.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 4, 2021
The Kia NBA Rookies of the Month for April! #KiaROTM
— NBA (@NBA) May 4, 2021
West: Anthony Edwards (@Timberwolves)
East: Malachi Flynn (@Raptors) pic.twitter.com/4KR0Nbv7w5
Ant played 16 games and averaged 34.4 minutes in April. He scored 21.6 points, 5.1 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game on 43.7% shooting and 34% from 3PT. How good are those numbers?
According to the Timberwolves official release, we haven’t seen anybody put up rookie numbers in all three major categories like Anthony Edwards (345 points, 82 rebounds 53 assists), since Christian Laettner posted 347 points, 193 rebounds, 70 assists in March of 1993. Remember, both Andrew Wiggins and Karl-Anthony Towns won Rookie of the Year awards with the Wolves.
Here are a few other interesting facts about Edwards’ month of April:
- Edwards 44 made 3-pointers are the most EVER by and NBA rookie (Previous: Landry Shamet – 43)
- No other rookie averaged 20 points in April
- Became 8th Timberwolves rookie to ever reach 1000 points in a season (currently at 1,205)
- Set the franchise record for 3-pointers in a season in April (Wes Johnson’s 103 in ’10-’11)
Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan