Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards switches to No. 5 jersey

Anthony Edwards was always No. 5 growing up. That was his jersey number in football and basketball, ranging from AAU to high school to college basketball at Georgia.

As the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, it was Edwards’ initial plan to wear No. 5 for the Timberwolves, but Minnesota guard Malik Beasley declined to give up the number. So Edwards went with No. 1 as a backup plan.

By the time Beasley was traded to Utah last offseason, it was too late for Edwards to grab the number, which then went to free-agent signing Kyle Anderson. But this offseason, Edwards and Anderson are flipping numbers. Edwards will wear No. 5 moving forward, and Anderson will be No. 1.

“Kyle likes No. 1 anyway,” Edwards said in an interview with Stadium.

And No. 5 has a plethora of meaning for Edwards. His birthday falls on the fifth, as does his sister’s. His grandmother passed on the fifth, as well.

“I’ve just always loved the number five,” Edwards said in a video posted by the Timberwolves’ social media account. “My family loves to see me in that number. It’s a dope number to be in.”

Edwards was a top-tier played in his No. 1 jersey, and plans on taking his game to another level as No. 5.

“A whole different player,” Edwards told Stadium. “A lot of athleticism, a lot more dunks. Just, you know, a different level of play, because I’ve got my number on my back now.”

He added this on the video posted by the Timberwolves: “It’s going to look good with Edwards on the back. We going to put a show on this year in No. 5.”

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