Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards was fined $75,000 by the NBA for “public criticism of the officiating and using inappropriate and profane language.”

Trade acquisitions such as Julius Randle and Donte DiVincenzo have struggled to adjust to the change of scenery, and the Timberwolves have dropped from the best net rating in the association last season to the No. 5 mark to open the year (via NBA.com).

Edwards has remained efficient to start his fifth year in the league, averaging 25.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game on 44.8/42.1/80.5 shooting splits.

It’s worth noting that he’s averaging just 4.2 free-throw attempts per game this season after recording 6.4 shots from the charity stripe each night last year.

Edwards is also avoiding the paint compared to past years, though. He’s taking a career-low 14.7 percent of his shots within three feet of the basket after attempting 27.6 percent of his total shots in that range throughout his first four years in the association (via Basketball Reference).

He acknowledged that he hasn’t been able to get to the rim as frequently, which may be affecting his ability to draw fouls.

“If you watch the game, there’s nothing for me to do if I get downhill,” Edwards said after a 133-107 loss to the New York Knicks on Thursday. “Everybody want me to get downhill. I know that’s my strength. I get to the rim, lay the ball up, dunk the ball, but I can’t do that if there’s no lane, it’s not open. Every team we play did a great job of sitting in the gaps. When I get to the rim, putting four people at the rim.”

“So, I mean there’s nothing I can do about going to the hole right now,” he added.

Edwards has been fined for criticizing officiating in the past, as he was penalized $40,000 during the 2023-24 season.

The Timberwolves will attempt to put an end to their brief losing streak against the Atlanta Hawks on Monday.

Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. ET.