As far as No. 1 picks go, Anthony Edwards didn't enter the NBA with the most fanfare.
Taken at the top of a draft held in November due to COVID-19, Edwards came from a Georgia program that didn't come close to national relevance in his only collegiate season and joined a small-market team that hadn't won a playoff series in 16 years.
History is just history, though. Edwards stepped into his role in Minnesota and emerged as a star, effectively taking the reins of the Timberwolves' offense from Karl-Anthony Towns and becoming the on-court leader of the franchise.
The playoffs define a player's legacy, and Edwards has a chance to start building his legacy by powering the Timberwolves to what would be their first NBA Finals berth. Fortunately for the franchise, they don't have to worry about Edwards getting away any time soon.
Here's a look at Edwards' contract with the Timberwolves and his career earnings to this point.
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Anthony Edwards contract details
Edwards signed a five-year, $204 million max contract extension with the Timberwolves in July 2023, agreeing to the deal days after he first became eligible for a new contract.
The deal could be worth as much as $260 million, depending on Edwards' All-NBA status this season. If Edwards is selected to an All-NBA team, the deal could reach its maximum value.
Notably, the deal hasn't yet taken effect. It starts with the 2024-25 season, so Edwards comes at a bargain $13.5 million salary for the Timberwolves this year. He made just north of $10 million in each of the last two seasons after earning $9.8 million as a rookie in 2020-21.
Here's the full breakdown of Edwards' upcoming contract before All-NBA selections are revealed:
| Season | Salary |
| 2024-25 | $35.3 million |
| 2025-26 | $38.1 million |
| 2026-27 | $40.9 million |
| 2027-28 | $43.7 million |
| 2028-29 | $46.5 million |
Edwards' salary can escalate to 30 percent of the salary cap based on his All-NBA status.
Anthony Edwards 2024 salary
Edwards made $13.5 million this season, in the final year of his four-year standard rookie contract.
Rookies don't have much flexibility at all when they sign contracts after the draft, though Edwards was able to capitalize on his status as the No. 1 pick by signing a deal that paid him more than $44 million.
At $13.5 million, however, Edwards certainly qualifies as a bargain considering he's the face of a championship contender already.
Anthony Edwards career earnings
Edwards has made $44.3 million in his four NBA seasons, though that figure is set to jump considerably once his salary rises to more than $35 million in 2024-25.
| Season | Salary |
| 2020-21 | $9.8 million |
| 2021-22 | $10.2 million |
| 2022-23 | $10.7 million |
| 2023-24 | $13.5 million |
Edwards' career earnings are on track to be a minimum of $248.7 million by the end of the 2028-29 season, with the potential for that mark to rise based on his All-NBA status.
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How old is Anthony Edwards?
Dwyane Wade cemented his NBA legacy at an early age by leading the Heat to their first championship when he was 24. Edwards could be on his way to doing the same in Minnesota at just 22 years old. The Timberwolves star was born on Aug. 5, 2001.
Edwards isn't set to turn 23 until August, so his future is incredibly bright after back-to-back All-Star seasons. Edwards averaged 25.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists in the regular season, shooting a career-best 46.1 percent from the field, and he's risen to the occasion in the playoffs with regular scoring outbursts.
Edwards will be in line to cash in while he's still in his 20s, and he will still be only 27 when his max extension with the Timberwolves expires. For now, Minnesota is glad to have no worries about Edwards' future with the franchise.
