Anthony Edwards is no longer a rising star. He is the star. The 24-year-old guard from Atlanta has transformed the Minnesota Timberwolves from a lottery team into a perennial playoff contender, and the five-year, $244 million contract extension he signed in the summer of 2023 proves that Minnesota had no intention of letting him go anywhere.
This article breaks down every detail of the Anthony Edwards contract — the numbers, the timeline, the performance bonuses, the endorsement income that sits on top of it all — and explains exactly why he earned every dollar.
Who Is Anthony Edwards?
Anthony “Ant-Man” Edwards was born on August 5, 2001, in Atlanta, Georgia. His early life was marked by heartbreak — his mother and grandmother both passed away from cancer, eight months apart, when Edwards was just 14 years old. His older siblings Antoine and Antoinette became his guardians, and it was during this difficult period that Edwards threw himself fully into basketball.
He attended Holy Spirit Preparatory School in Atlanta, where he was rated a consensus five-star recruit and earned McDonald’s All-American and USA Today All-USA First Team honors. He wore the number 5 jersey to honor the memory of his mother and grandmother, who both passed on the fifth day of their respective months — a tradition he has carried with him throughout his NBA career.
Edwards enrolled at the University of Georgia for one season, where he led all freshmen in the country with 19.1 points per game, earned SEC Freshman of the Year honors, and declared for the 2020 NBA Draft. He stood 6 feet 4 inches with a 6-foot-9 wingspan, weighed 225 pounds, and could jump out of the building. The scouting world fell in love with his combination of athleticism, shooting, and competitive fire.
The 2020 Draft: Number One Overall
Anthony Edwards was selected first overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2020 NBA Draft, becoming the cornerstone pick of a franchise trying to rebuild after years of mediocrity. He was the fourth player in NBA history to score the fourth-most points before turning 22 years old, and his debut season immediately earned him a spot on the NBA All-Rookie First Team.
His rookie numbers of 19.3 points per game were just the beginning. In each subsequent season, his scoring average, rebounding, assists, and shooting efficiency have improved — a development curve that validated the franchise’s decision to stake their future on him.
Anthony Edwards Contract History
Rookie Deal (2020)
When Edwards was drafted first overall in November 2020, he signed the standard four-year rookie scale contract worth a total of $44,271,137. This included a team option for the fourth year — standard for first-round picks.
Here is how that rookie deal broke down by year:
| Season | Salary |
|---|---|
| 2020–21 | $10,245,120 |
| 2021–22 | $10,757,880 |
| 2022–23 | $11,270,640 |
| 2023–24 (Team Option) | $11,997,497 |
The Timberwolves exercised the fourth-year option without hesitation, and shortly after, began talks on a long-term extension.
The Five-Year Supermax Extension (2023)
On July 8, 2023 — just weeks after completing his third NBA season and his first All-Star appearance — Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves agreed to a five-year Designated Rookie Maximum contract extension worth a guaranteed $244,623,120, with an escalator clause that could push the total value to $260 million.
The escalator clause was activated by Edwards making an All-NBA team in the season immediately before the extension began, taking his per-year average from the 25% salary cap figure to the 30% figure — a rule colloquially known as the “Derrick Rose Rule.”
“I’m humbled, appreciative and excited to remain in Minnesota as part of this incredible Timberwolves organization,” Edwards said in a statement at the time. “It’s amazing to see where hard work can take you.”
Anthony Edwards Contract: Year-by-Year Salary Breakdown
| Season | Base Salary | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 2023–24 | $13,500,000 | Rookie option (pre-extension) |
| 2024–25 | $42,176,400 | Extension Year 1 |
| 2025–26 | $45,550,512 | Extension Year 2 (current) |
| 2026–27 | $48,924,624 | Extension Year 3 |
| 2027–28 | $52,298,736 | Extension Year 4 |
| 2028–29 | $55,672,848 | Extension Year 5 |
Edwards’ salary escalates by approximately $3.4 million per season throughout the extension. By the final year in 2028-29, he will be earning $55,672,848 in a single season — at just 27 years old. His average annual value of $48,924,624 was one of the highest in the NBA at the time of signing.
His largest guaranteed amount as of the 2025-26 season is $202,446,720, according to Basketball Reference.
Total Career Earnings
When all contracts are combined — from his rookie deal through the full run of his current extension — Anthony Edwards’ total guaranteed NBA career earnings stand at approximately $288.9 million, according to SalarySwish. If he triggers all available escalators and plays out the deal in full, that figure climbs toward $300 million.
At the end of the 2028-29 season, Edwards will be 27 years old and eligible for another maximum contract. If the NBA salary cap continues to rise as projected — which is likely, given the league’s recent television rights deal — his next contract could be the richest in league history at that time.
How Edwards Earned This Contract
The numbers on the court back up every dollar on the contract. Here is a look at how Edwards has improved in each season of his NBA career:
| Season | Games | Points | Rebounds | Assists | FG% | 3P% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020–21 | 72 | 19.3 | 4.7 | 2.9 | 41.0% | 32.9% |
| 2021–22 | 72 | 21.3 | 4.8 | 3.8 | 44.1% | 35.7% |
| 2022–23 | 79 | 24.6 | 5.8 | 4.4 | 45.9% | 36.9% |
| 2023–24 | 79 | 25.9 | 5.4 | 5.1 | 46.3% | 35.5% |
| 2024–25 | 75 | 27.3 | 5.5 | 5.2 | 47.1% | 37.1% |
| 2025–26 | 61 | 28.8 | 5.0 | 3.7 | 48.9% | 39.9% |
His career averages across 442 regular-season games stand at 24.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 4.1 assists per game — numbers that place him firmly in the conversation for the best player of his generation.
The 2025-26 season was his best yet, as he averaged a career-high 28.8 points per game on career-best 48.9% shooting from the field and 39.9% from three-point range, even while managing a right knee injury that kept him out of 21 games late in the regular season.
Playoff Performances: Ant-Man in the Spotlight
Edwards has quickly established himself as one of the NBA’s elite playoff performers — a player who raises his game when the stakes are highest.
In the 2024 playoffs, he averaged 27.6 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 6.5 assists, leading the Wolves past the Phoenix Suns and Denver Nuggets before falling to the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Finals.
In the 2025 playoffs, he guided Minnesota to the Western Conference Finals again, posting a playoff career-high 44 points in a single game against the Denver Nuggets along the way.
In the current 2026 playoffs, Edwards has the Timberwolves deep in the postseason again, currently battling the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Semifinals in a tied 2-2 series. In Game 4, he erupted for 36 points in a 114-109 victory, pouring in 16 points in the fourth quarter alone to help Minnesota erase a deficit and even the series. He has now logged his 18th career 30-point playoff game, placing him fourth all-time in that category among players under the age of 25.
On January 17, 2026, Edwards also set a new career-high with 55 points — including 26 in the fourth quarter — in a regular-season game against the San Antonio Spurs, cementing his status as one of the most explosive scorers in the league.
On January 8, 2026, he became the seventh player in NBA history to reach 10,000 career points before turning 25, joining Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, and Luka Dončić. He is also the third-youngest player in NBA history to reach that milestone, trailing only LeBron James and Kevin Durant.
The “Derrick Rose Rule” Escalator: What It Means for Edwards
One of the most important aspects of the Edwards contract is the escalator clause — often called the “Derrick Rose Rule” after the former MVP. Under this clause, a player who signs a 25% max extension can see the guarantee increase to 30% of the salary cap if they make an All-NBA team in the season immediately before the extension begins.
Edwards made the All-NBA team in the 2022-23 season, triggering the escalator. That pushed his total guaranteed value from $207 million to $244.6 million — a difference of nearly $38 million. It was one of the most significant individual contract triggers in NBA history.
Off-Court Earnings: The Business of Ant-Man
Anthony Edwards’ NBA salary is extraordinary, but the income he generates away from the court makes his total earnings picture even more impressive.
Adidas
Edwards’ most significant off-court partnership is with Adidas. He signed his first deal with the brand when he was drafted in 2020. In July 2024, he agreed to a major multi-year extension that Shams Charania of The Athletic reported would make Edwards a “face” of the Adidas brand, earning more than $10 million per year — with the total deal estimated at $50 million. His first signature shoe, the AE 1, launched in November 2023 and quickly became one of the highest-selling basketball shoes in the league. The AE 2 debuted in 2026.
Sprite
Edwards became the face of Sprite’s revived “Obey Your Thirst” campaign in 2024 and 2025, appearing in multiple national ads including the notable “School of Obeydience” and “Anta Claus” campaigns. He appeared alongside NBA legend Kevin Garnett in one high-profile spot.
Other Partnerships
Edwards has also secured deals with Bose (Ultra Open Earbuds, “Sound is Power” campaign), Chipotle — making him one of the only basketball players in the brand’s history — and Beats by Dre. His production company, Three-Fifths Media, founded in 2019, signed a deal with Wheelhouse to produce unscripted television content.
Total Estimated Net Worth
Based on his NBA salary, his Adidas deal, and his other partnerships, Anthony Edwards’ estimated net worth as of December 2025 is approximately $40 million — a figure that will grow dramatically as the back end of his current contract pays out.
Anthony Edwards Contract: Quick Reference
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Anthony Darnell Edwards |
| Date of Birth | August 5, 2001 |
| Height / Weight | 6’4″ / 225 lbs |
| Position | Shooting Guard |
| Team | Minnesota Timberwolves |
| Draft | 1st overall, 2020 |
| Contract Type | 5-Year Designated Rookie Max Extension |
| Contract Signed | July 8, 2023 |
| Total Guaranteed Value | $244,623,120 |
| Max Value (with escalators) | ~$260,000,000 |
| Average Annual Value | $48,924,624 |
| 2025–26 Salary | $45,550,512 |
| 2028–29 Salary (Final Year) | $55,672,848 |
| Contract Expires | After 2028–29 season |
| Total Career Earnings | ~$288.9 million |
| Estimated Net Worth (2025) | ~$40 million |
| Main Endorsement Partner | Adidas ($50M+ multi-year) |
What Comes Next for Anthony Edwards?
The current five-year extension runs through the 2028-29 season. At that point, Edwards will be 27 years old — right in the prime of his career. He will be eligible for another maximum contract, and given the trajectory of both his performance and the NBA salary cap, it is entirely possible that his next deal will be the richest in league history at that time.
The bigger question may be whether the Timberwolves, built around Edwards, can win an NBA championship before his current deal expires. Minnesota has now appeared in three consecutive Western Conference Finals, and with the 2026 Playoffs still ongoing, a deeper run — and potentially a Finals appearance — remains on the table.
Edwards himself is clear about his goals. He wants to win. And with a max contract secured, a transcendent skill set, and a fanbase that has fully embraced him as the franchise’s all-time cornerstone, the conditions for a championship run in Minnesota are more favorable than they have ever been.
FAQs
Q: How much is Anthony Edwards’ contract worth?
Edwards signed a five-year, $244,623,120 Designated Rookie Maximum extension with the Minnesota Timberwolves in July 2023. With available escalators, the deal can reach approximately $260 million. It runs through the 2028-29 NBA season.
Q: What is Anthony Edwards’ salary in 2025-26?
Edwards earns a base salary of $45,550,512 during the 2025-26 season. That figure rises to $48,924,624 in 2026-27, $52,298,736 in 2027-28, and peaks at $55,672,848 in the final year of his deal (2028-29).
Q: When did Anthony Edwards sign his extension?
Edwards agreed to his five-year extension on July 8, 2023. The extension kicked in starting with the 2024-25 season and runs through 2028-29.
Q: What is the “Derrick Rose Rule” and how did it affect Edwards’ contract?
The Derrick Rose Rule allows a player on a standard 25% max rookie extension to escalate the deal to 30% of the salary cap if they make an All-NBA team in the season immediately before the extension begins. Edwards made the All-NBA team in 2022-23, triggering the escalator and increasing his guaranteed value from $207 million to $244.6 million.
Q: What is Anthony Edwards’ net worth?
As of December 2025, Edwards’ estimated net worth is approximately $40 million. This includes his NBA salary, his estimated $10+ million per year Adidas endorsement deal, and income from Sprite, Bose, Chipotle, and other brand partnerships.
Q: How much does Anthony Edwards make from Adidas?
In mid-2024, Edwards signed a multi-year extension with Adidas worth more than $10 million annually, with the total deal estimated at approximately $50 million. The deal made him one of the faces of the Adidas brand globally.
Q: How many career points does Anthony Edwards have?
As of January 8, 2026, Edwards surpassed 10,000 career points — becoming the seventh player in NBA history and the third-youngest (behind only LeBron James and Kevin Durant) to reach that milestone before turning 25. His career average stands at 24.6 points per game.
Q: What is Anthony Edwards’ career-high scoring game?
Edwards set a new career high with 55 points on January 17, 2026, against the San Antonio Spurs. He scored 26 of those points in the fourth quarter alone.
Q: Could Anthony Edwards get a bigger contract after 2029?
Yes. When his current deal expires after the 2028-29 season, Edwards will be 27 years old and will be eligible for another maximum contract. Given the projected growth of the NBA salary cap, his next deal could be the most lucrative in league history at that time.
Q: Is Anthony Edwards one of the highest-paid NBA players? Yes. His average annual salary of $48,924,624 ranks among the highest in the NBA. His 2028-29 salary of $55,672,848 will place him among the top earners league-wide in that season.