ESPN Reporter Confirms Anthony Edwards’ Injury Status For Game 5 vs OKC Amid Charles Barkley’s Latest NBA Debate

The Timberwolves came into this postseason with a storm behind them: Anthony Edwards leading the charge, an upgraded core, and the swagger of a team that had made it to the Western Conference Finals just last year. But now, down 3-1 to the Thunder, that same storm looks more like a drizzle. Fans are asking the tough questions. What happened to Ant-Man? Where’s the fire? That electricity that made him ESPN’s next big thing?

His stats don’t scream collapse: 24 points, 7.8 rebounds, 5.3 assists per game, but the eye test is failing. In Game 4, he looked lost. Disconnected, scored just 16, went 1-of-7 from three, and coughed up five turnovers. Something felt…off. The chatter began: Was it just Dort’s elite defense? Was Ant checked out? Or, the one that hit hardest, was he playing hurt?

Turns out, we finally have an answer. On the YouTube show Pardon My Take, hosted by Tyson Ritter, ESPN insider Brian Windhorst dropped the latest on Edwards’ injury status. Windy shut down the speculation, saying flat out, “I don’t think so.” He added, “He didn’t get any treatment after the game either of the last two nights… he was dressed and talking with people outside the locker room… nothing that you would be clear like soaking a knee or an ankle or anything like that.” So yeah, no secret injury. No lingering physical issues. As Windhorst put it bluntly, “He’s got to play better.”

That’s the cold truth. He’s just not delivering right now, and for a guy being propped up as the league’s next face, that spells trouble.

And speaking of the ‘face of the league,’ Charles Barkley is ready to torch that narrative. On Inside the NBA, Chuck went in on ESPN’s Edwards hype. ““Don’t try to make Anthony Edwards the face of the NBA,” he said. “The face of the NBA is Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Joker, and Giannis.” Barkley took a not-so-subtle jab at ESPN’s biggest voice, Stephen A. Smith, who’s been loud about crowning Edwards as the league’s next torchbearer.

But with Minnesota on the verge of a second straight WCF flameout, and SGA torching the Wolves on both ends, Barkley might just be speaking for the fans. The league wants a new face. Edwards was supposed to be it. But so far? He’s blinking in the spotlight.

“Don’t try to make Anthony Edwards the face of the NBA. The face of the NBA is SGA, Joker & Giannis.”

Chuck with strong opinions on the “Face of the League” convos pic.twitter.com/tTVaAyRsKU

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) May 27, 2025

Now here’s where it gets messier. Minnesota isn’t just battling playoff demons. They’re staring down a brutal financial wall. The team’s payroll this season smashed through the $140.6 million cap and is deep into second-apron territory. Windhorst explained on the same pod, “They have new owners coming on—Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez… I would be kind of surprised if they could afford all three [Gobert, Randle, Edwards].”

The Wolves are drowning in luxury tax, and someone’s gotta go. Gobert’s got his extension. Randle’s the one lighting it up lately. But logic’s been thrown out the window since the Luka trade. Edwards? He’s the franchise. He’s safe. But the rest of the core? Hanging by a thread.

So what does this mean long term? For starters, Game 5 is do-or-die. Edwards has to flip the switch because this moment demands it. If he folds again, all the talk about him being “the guy” might start to fade. And behind the scenes, Lore and A-Rod are facing their first major test as majority owners. Keep Randle? Stick with Gobert? Blow it up? Either way, the next few weeks could define the Timberwolves’ future.

Anthony Edwards safe, but one of Julius Randle and Rudy Gobert may have to go

The Timberwolves’ ownership group, led by Alex Rodriguez and Marc Lore, has money, but not enough to keep burning it for a core that can’t cross the Western hump. Their payroll blasted past the cap and second apron this year, locking them into a financial headlock that might require some major surgery this offseason.

As Windhorst noted, “They’ve demonstrated to the NBA that they’ve got a whole bunch of money to operate the team… but I would be surprised if they were able to resign all three.” It’s a classic NBA squeeze: try to win now, spend big, then get burned when the results don’t follow. And if Minnesota gets bounced in Game 5, expect the front office to hit the phones quick.

Feb 27, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) reacts after being ejected during the third quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers at Crypto.com Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jason Parkhurst-Imagn Images

Then there’s the emotional weight of it all. Minnesota built this squad to win now. Back-to-back WCFs looked great on paper, but with no Finals to show, the shine is wearing off. And Windhorst doesn’t see this core surviving past this run. “I would be kind of surprised,” he admitted.

Translation: get ready for some shakeups. Whether it’s Randle, Gobert, or someone else, change is coming. And Edwards? It’s time he showed us why he was ever in the ‘face of the league’ conversation to begin with.

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