College

Edwards Named NBA Rookie Of The Month

Minneapolis/St. Paul — Former Georgia Bulldog Anthony Edwards, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, was named the Western Conference’s NBA Kia Rookie of the Month for March by the league on Thursday. Edwards’ 24.2 points per game in March represented the third-most in a calendar month by a teenager in NBA history, trailing only Carmelo Anthony (27.1) and LeBron James (26.3) (min. 10 games). Over the month, Edwards led all NBA rookies in scoring and was the only rookie to average more than 20 points. The Atlanta native additionally led all rookies in total points (314), made field goals (116), total 3-pointers (34) and minutes per game (35.1). Dating back to Feb. 24, Edwards has registered at least one steal, a streak of 16 games, the longest active run in the NBA. The 16-game streak is the longest run by a Timberwolves rookie, besting the old mark of 15 games by Pooh Richardson twice in the 1989-90 season). Highlights from Edwards’ month included:

• Erupting for a career-high 42 points in the Timberwolves’ come-from-behind 123-119 victory in Phoenix on March 18. Edwards became the first Timberwolves rookie to score 40+ points in a game and – at 19 years, 225 days – the third-youngest player in NBA history to score 40+ points behind James (2003-04, 19y-88d) and Kevin Durant (2007-08, 19y-200d).

• Pouring in 34 points in a March 14 contest against Portland. Edwards connected on 12-of-24 shots from the field, including 6-of-14 from long range. The six three-pointers tied for the most by a Timberwolves rookie.

• Registering his rookie-leading 19th 20-point performance in a 102-101 win over New York. Edwards scored 24 points on 9-of-16 shooting, including 12 points in the fourth quarter. He connected on his 100th 3-pointer of the season, becoming the third-youngest player in NBA history to connect on 100 threes behind Kobe Bryant (19y-176d) and Kevin Knox (19y-218d). Edwards also became the youngest player in Timberwolves history to reach 100 three-pointers (previous youngest was Stephon Marbury at 20 years, 58 days).

Edwards enjoyed a standout season at Georgia during 2019-20 when he was the nation’s top-scoring freshman at 19.1 ppg. He scored 610 points, the 10th-most ever by an SEC freshman and the seventh-highest effort by a Bulldog in a single season. Edwards was named SEC Freshman of the Year in balloting of both league coaches and the Associated Press and was honored as the SEC Freshman of the Week a school-record four times. Edwards was one of five finalists for the Jerry West National Shooting Guard of the Year Award and was tabbed the Georgia College Player of the Year by the Atlanta Tipoff Club, the Bulldogs’ ninth honoree and the fourth in the last five years. Edwards is the eighth Timberwolves player to win Kia NBA Rookie of the Month honors, joining Karl-Anthony Towns (November, December 2015, January, February, March, April 2016), Andrew Wiggins (November, December 2014, January, February, April 2015), Gorgui Dieng (March 2014), Ricky Rubio (January 2012), Kevin Love (March 2009), Randy Foye (December 2006) and Stephon Marbury (January 1997).

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