How Anthony Edwards’ mom caused raging stories as a kid

The Minnesota Timberwolves they continue to chase after Anthony Edwardswhose explosive scoring and unapologetic confidence have become defining characteristics of the franchise. For Edwards, his competitive edge he didn’t develop under the NBA lights, but from a deeply personal experience from his childhood – one that still fuels his approach today. Minnesota fans are now getting a glimpse of how the Timberwolves star’s trash talk, his mother’s influence and his early troubles trace back to an Atlanta, Georgia, origin story.

Now one of the league’s most fearless and vocal talents, Edwards forged his mentality in his grandmother’s backyard, often losing battles to his older brothers — formative moments that taught him how to respond to adversity long before he reached the NBA.

In a clip shared by ESPN Shams Charania to his X (formerly known as Twitter), Edwards reflected on the roots his competitive fire during a sit-down interview conducted ahead of Minnesota’s Christmas Day matchup against the Denver Nuggets. When asked about where his signature trash talk began, the 24-year-old guard gave a candid answer that highlighted the role of family and resilience in shaping his fearless mindset.

“I grew up playing against my brothers in the backyard at my grandpa’s house, I could never beat them. They always won, so the only way I could try to get into their heads was to talk a little trash to them. Mostly I wanted to stand up for myself because I would cry when I lost. It was like a grand entrance into the house and I could cry…beat my brothers and then she’s like ‘Man, you’ve got to understand this'”

Anthony Edwards of the Timberwolves on ESPN-ABC NBA Christmas:

– “I would go into the house with my mom and cry all the time. She’s like, man, you have to understand”
– Adding to the game because of OKC
– Leadership
– Phone on the bench to take pictures of Steph Curry
– Christmas prediction pic.tvitter.com/kSi0HcBTTn

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 24, 2025

The lesson stayed with him, molding Edwards into a fearless shooter who turns frustration into motivation while averaging 28.7 points per game. As the Wolves head into their Christmas showdown with Western Conference momentum and ambition, the former No. 1 pick in the 2020 NBA draft is once again taking center stage as a product of hard-earned resilience.