Anthony Edwards to Miss Time After Right Knee Surgery

Preface

The Minnesota Timberwolves expect Anthony Edwards to recover fully after he undergoes arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, but the procedure will keep the star guard out for an undetermined period. Reports indicated he could miss up to two months, while team president of basketball operations Tim Connelly said Wednesday that the operation is intended to address a lingering issue and support Edwards’ long-term health. The team expects to gain a clearer sense of his return timeline after the scheduled cleanup procedure Thursday.

The situation comes after Edwards played through knee concerns and delivered a strong start to the season. His absence leaves Minnesota without its leading scorer and creates an opportunity for other guards to take on larger roles. The article also notes several other NBA players dealing with significant knee injuries, placing Edwards’ situation in a broader context of early-season availability concerns.

Lazy bag

The Timberwolves plan to prioritize Edwards’ long-term well-being, with his return schedule to be clarified after surgery. An MRI Tuesday found new damage that had not appeared on earlier scans. Despite being questionable, Edwards scored 47 points in an overtime loss at Cleveland, bringing his total to 133 points through four games—a franchise record. Minnesota will rely on its backcourt depth, including Ayo Dosunmu, Terrence Shannon Jr. and Bones Hyland, while Edwards recovers. The team has not provided a definitive return date.

Main Body

The Minnesota Timberwolves expect Anthony Edwards to be “good as new” after arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, according to president of basketball operations Tim Connelly. Speaking Wednesday, Connelly said the team’s immediate concern is Edwards’ long-term health and that the procedure is meant to put him in the best position to perform over the long term. Edwards was scheduled to undergo the cleanup procedure Thursday. Once it is completed, the Timberwolves expect to have a clearer timetable for his return later in the season.

Reports said Edwards could miss up to two months, but Connelly did not confirm a precise diagnosis or a fixed recovery period. The team’s public comments left open whether his absence will last weeks or months. That uncertainty reflects the need to assess the knee after the procedure rather than rely on a timeline before doctors have completed the work and evaluated his recovery. The central message from Minnesota is that the club is prioritizing a complete recovery instead of rushing its star guard back onto the court.

Edwards has dealt with knee problems before. He was troubled by pain in his right knee last spring and appeared in a career-low 61 games last season. During the first round of the playoffs, he also hyperextended his left knee. That injury caused a deep bone bruise and kept him out for two games. The current issue concerns his right knee, so the latest procedure follows an earlier period in which both knees became part of his injury history.

There were signs of discomfort during Minnesota’s home opener Sunday, when Edwards was seen grabbing his knee and grimacing. He was subsequently listed as questionable for Monday’s game against Cleveland, but played and scored 47 points in an overtime loss. Through four games, he had totaled 133 points, a franchise record. The scoring performance underscored his importance to the Timberwolves, while the visible discomfort and subsequent scan findings helped explain why the organization chose to investigate the problem further.

An MRI performed Tuesday revealed new damage that had not been detected in earlier scans. Those previous scans took place before training camp and during the playoffs. Connelly said Edwards’ condition over the summer did not warrant recommending a procedure at that time. The new information therefore changed the team’s assessment. The decision to operate followed the latest imaging rather than a previously established plan to perform surgery.

Connelly described the decision as a precaution focused on Edwards’ future. “We’re just concerned about his long-term health. We want to make sure we’re putting him in the best position he can be so he can be the best version he’s going to be for a long time,” he said. He added that Edwards was disappointed by the news but remained positive and upbeat. According to Connelly, Edwards quickly reached out to his teammates and told them, “You guys got it,” signalling his confidence in the group while he is unavailable.

The Timberwolves were already dealing with a major backcourt absence. Guard Donte DiVincenzo is out after tearing his right Achilles tendon in the same playoff game against Denver in which Edwards hyperextended his left knee. DiVincenzo had started all 82 games last season, making his injury a substantial change to Minnesota’s rotation. The team also brought in point guard LaMelo Ball, an acquisition that reshaped the lineup and gave the Timberwolves a fresh spark while allowing Edwards to return to his natural shooting guard position.

With Edwards sidelined, Minnesota has several players who may help cover the minutes and responsibilities in the backcourt. Ayo Dosunmu and Terrence Shannon Jr. have been coming off the bench so far this season, and one of them is likely to start in Edwards’ absence. Backup guard Bones Hyland is also expected to receive an expanded role. Those changes can distribute playing time, but replacing Edwards’ scoring, leadership and ability to influence a game is a different challenge from simply filling his spot in the lineup.

Hyland acknowledged that difficulty while emphasizing the need for a collective response. He said Edwards brings dynamic scoring and leadership, and that it is tough to fill his shoes because of what he contributes on the floor. “Nobody can be like Ant, but we’ve got players who can step in and just take over a game as well,” Hyland said. He summed up the approach as “Just play team basketball.” The comments reflect the balance facing the Timberwolves: recognize the unique role of their leading player while relying on the full roster to manage his absence.

The article also describes other NBA injury concerns. Oklahoma City could be without Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace for the rest of the season after injuries on Sunday. A Utah Jazz forward is scheduled to be re-evaluated in 6 weeks after tearing the MCL in his right knee on Monday. Kawhi Leonard will miss at least a week with swelling in his left knee, although tests revealed no acute injury. Orlando Magic guard Jalen Suggs had an MRI that revealed a mild bone bruise in his right knee and is expected to be re-evaluated in two weeks.

These cases differ in diagnosis and projected recovery, but together they illustrate the range of injury updates teams must manage during the season. For Edwards, the most important next step is the scheduled arthroscopic procedure and the assessment that follows. Until the Timberwolves provide an updated timetable, his return remains uncertain. The team’s stated priority is clear: protect his long-term health while asking its available guards to share the workload in the meantime.

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