“I just don’t trust people. The people I came in with is the people I’m gonna stay with. I’m not adding no other people to my circle”. From an early stage, Anthony Edwards placed special emphasis on family. After all, the personal tragedies he suffered made his childhood quite different from all others, compelling him to keep his remaining blood relations as close as he could. While it is nothing to the level that Dom Toretto would emphasize family, the Timberwolves star has seldom shied from praising his loved ones, calling his brothers and himself sheets of paper while his sister was the staple.

However, Edwards also divulged only specific information about his family, not going too deep into his ancestry or roots. Therefore, it is now up to us to find out the truth about the 23-year-old.

What is Anthony Edwards’ background?

Contrary to what some people might claim, Anthony Edwards IS NOT the son of Michael Jordan. Given the resemblance between the duo, their competitive spirit, and their on-court prowess, the Timberwolves star has however drawn some comparisons with the Bulls legend. Some reports might have you believe that Edwards is a mix of German and Irish descent, with his mother being German and his father possessing a mixed ancestry of English and Irish. Unfortunately, those reports have confused the NBA player with Hollywood actor Anthony Edwards, known for his roles in Top Gun and Designated Survivor.

Not much is known about the player’s family background beyond his immediate family. He was born to Chrisha Yvette Edwards and Roger Caruth, though Caruth’s whereabouts remain unclear as he wasn’t heavily involved in his son’s upbringing. Reportedly, he was the one who gave Edwards the iconic ‘Ant-Man’ nickname. Edwards spent his childhood in the care of his mother and grandmother, Shirley Edwards, while growing up alongside his older siblings. Speaking of his grandmother, the basketball star shared, “She was like our backbone; she did everything for us. When we didn’t have money or lights, she always came through.”

2015 marked a dark and pivotal year in Anthony Edwards’ life. It began with the loss of his mother, Chrisha, to cancer, and just eight months later, his grandmother, Shirley, passed away from the same illness. Both tragically died on the 5th of their respective months. After losing these two central figures, Edwards and his siblings decided to look after themselves. His older sister, Antoinette, then 20, petitioned for custody of her brothers and stepped into their grandmother’s role, cheering from the stands as Anthony excelled in basketball. She was there, alongside their brothers and her boyfriend, when Anthony was selected #1 overall in the 2020 NBA Draft.

Anthony Edwards didn’t consider the love and care he received as a one-way street. The player made sure to express his love for his sister whenever the opportunity arose.

“My sister was about to have her baby, my nephew” – Family love compelled Anthony Edwards to choose University of Georgia over other elite colleges

After the success he found during his high school basketball career, Anthony Edwards received offers from several colleges. However, instead of joining elite programs like Florida State, Kentucky, Kansas, or North Carolina, he chose Georgia—a school with only two conference tournament championships to its name. For Edwards, the decision seemed driven by emotional ties and a sense of practicality.

Appearing on an interview with Boardroom back in December 2023, Edwards stated that the University of Georgia was “right up the street.” This provided him the perfect opportunity to stay close to Antoinette, since “My sister was about to have her baby, my nephew. I ain’t try to get her on the plane, so she can just drive in the car and drive 45 minutes and be there.”

In the end, the choice of the university did not matter much. The 19.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 2.8 assists he averaged with the Georgia Bulldogs is what earned him the No. 1 overall draft pick option. The rest, as they say, is history.

Before you go, remember to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Silas Demary Jr.