The Minnesota Timberwolves continue to surge behind Anthony Edwards, whose explosive scoring and unapologetic confidence have become defining traits of the franchise. For Edwards, his competitive edge did not develop under NBA lights, but from a deeply personal childhood experience—one that still fuels his approach today. Minnesota fans are now gaining insight into how the Timberwolves star’s trash talk, his mother’s influence, and his early adversity all trace back to a single origin story in Atlanta, Georgia.

Now one of the league’s most fearless and vocal talents, Edwards forged his mentality in his grandmother’s backyard, frequently losing battles to his older brothers—formative moments that taught him how to respond to adversity long before reaching the NBA.

In a clip shared by ESPN’s Shams Charania to his X (formerly known as Twitter), Edwards reflected on the roots of his competitive fire during a sit-down interview conducted ahead of Minnesota’s Christmas Day matchup vs. the Denver Nuggets. When asked about where his signature trash talk began, the 24-year-old shooting guard offered a candid response that highlighted the role of family and resilience in shaping his fearless mindset.

“Growing up playing against my brothers in the back yard at my Granda’s house, I could never beat them. They always won, so, the only way I could try to get in their head is by talking a little trash to em’. Pretty much I just wanted to stand up for myself on my own, cause I would cry when I lose. It was like a big… Yeah so I would go in the house with my mama and cry, all the time because I couldn’t beat my brothers and then she’s like ‘Man, you have got to figure it out’”

Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards for ESPN-ABC NBA Christmas Day:

– “I would go in the house with my momma and cry all the time. She’s like, Man, you got to figure it out”
– Adding to game because of OKC
– Leadership
– Phone on the bench to photograph Steph Curry
– XMas prediction pic.twitter.com/qSi0HcBTTn

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 24, 2025

The lesson stayed with him, shaping Edwards into a fearless scorer who turns frustration into motivation while averaging 28.7 points per game. As the Wolves enter their Christmas Day showdown with momentum and Western Conference ambitions, the former No. 1 pick of the 2020 NBA Draft once again takes center stage as a product of hard-earned resilience.