Anthony Edwards and the risk beyond surgery: Sutterer’s analysis
Knee surgery could be only part of the issue. Brian Sutterer examines the potential risks for Edwards, citing the cases of Kawhi Leonard and Joel Embiid
Anthony Edwards’ season is being interrupted just as the Minnesota Timberwolves star was putting up extraordinary numbers.
According to ESPN’s Shams Charania, Edwards will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Thursday, potentially sidelining him for up to two months.
The first signs appeared Sunday during the home win over the Toronto Raptors, when Edwards began repeatedly touching his right knee. The discomfort prompted the Timberwolves to list him on the injury report for the following game against Cleveland, but he was cleared to play after warmups.
The result? 47 points in 41 minutes in a 127-125 overtime loss.
That performance made him just the fourth player in NBA history to record at least two 45-point games in his team’s first four games of a season.
An issue that also surfaced last season
This isn’t Edwards’ first right knee issue. Last season, he dealt with runner’s knee, a painful condition affecting the kneecap area that forced him to miss nine of the final 22 regular-season games.
Over the summer, he opted for a period of rest to fully recover from his knee issues and reported no notable discomfort during training camp.
Brian Sutterer’s analysis
The concern, however, may extend beyond the length of his absence. Brian Sutterer, a physician known for analyzing NBA injuries, raised questions about the potential long-term consequences of the procedure.
While stressing that the details of Edwards’ medical situation are not yet known, Sutterer explained that knee arthroscopy can be used to treat cartilage or meniscus problems.
In some cases, surgery can relieve symptoms and help an athlete return to play without necessarily eliminating all the factors that caused the problem.
The physician also pointed to Kawhi Leonard and Joel Embiid, two NBA stars whose careers have been affected by recurring knee problems.
According to the data Sutterer cited, NBA players who underwent comparable arthroscopic procedures missed an average of approximately six and a half weeks. Additionally, about 30% appeared on the injury report again with issues involving the same knee within six weeks of returning, a figure that reportedly rises to 50% over two years.
These are general statistics, not a prediction about Edwards’ future, particularly because the specific issue being addressed during surgery has not yet been announced.
Individual honors and a supermax also at risk
The injury could also have significant implications for Edwards’ contract outlook. If he misses two months, he could fall short of the 65-game minimum required for All-NBA and MVP eligibility.
That is no small detail: earning one of those honors would have allowed him to qualify for a four-year, $304 million supermax extension, which he could sign next summer and which would begin in the 2029/30 season.
That opportunity could now slip away.
His manager, Justin Holland, made clear, however, that the player’s priorities lie elsewhere.
This isn’t about individual accolades, All-NBA selections or anything like that. There’s one goal: winning a championship. We’ve seen in a short time what this team is capable of, and we know big things are ahead when everyone is at 100%
Justin Holland
Minnesota’s priority now will be getting Edwards healthy without rushing the process. The Timberwolves have already shown they can get results without their star, but going weeks without a player averaging more than 33 points certainly won’t be easy.