Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards fined again, $50K US for flipping off official

Anthony Edwards has yet another bill to pay to the NBA. The Minnesota Timberwolves star has been fined $50,000 US for making obscene gestures toward a game official.

The league announced the punishment on Monday before Minnesota's 120-106 win at Washington, citing his conduct with 1:26 left in the third quarter of the 127-125 loss to Memphis on Saturday. Edwards scored 41 points in Monday's win.

"I made a careless, young, dumb mistake, shooting birds," the 23-year-old Edwards said Monday. "That has nothing to do with the refs at all. That's all me mentally making a dumb mistake. I won't do it again."

Edwards, a two-time all-star in his fifth season, had been subbed out with 2:25 remaining in the period. He received his NBA-leading ninth technical foul of the season while on the bench.

"I ain't getting no more techs, I ain't saying nothing else," Edwards promised with a grin. He also had 15 techs last season, most coming in the first half.

Edwards has been penalized a total of $285,000 by the league this season for five different behavioural transgressions, mostly for language.

• During December, he was docked $100,000 for profanity during a live television interview, $75,000 for a profane public criticism of the officiating and $25,000 for profanity in a media interview.
• In November, he was fined $35,000 for making an obscene gesture on the court.