Context:

Anthony Edwards, a star player for the Minnesota Timberwolves, became the subject of viral attention when a photo depicting him bald surfaced online. The image, which drew comparisons to NBA legend Michael Jordan, was confirmed to be an edited fake from a parody account, NBA Centel. This account had previously been temporarily banned and is known for its humorous content, highlighted by its self-labeled parody status in its bio. Despite the image's widespread attention, including eight million views and fan speculation, it was confirmed by an AI bot, Grok, as a fabrication with no credible sources backing its authenticity. The controversy arose as the Timberwolves prepared to face the Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Semifinals, adding an unexpected twist to the basketball narrative around Edwards.

Dive Deeper:

• Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves gained viral attention after a photo emerged showing him bald, reminiscent of Michael Jordan, which sparked fan curiosity about the authenticity of the image.

• The photo was posted by NBA Centel, a parody account known for humorous and fabricated content, which had been previously banned temporarily and clearly labels itself as a parody in its bio.

• Despite gaining significant traction with over eight million views, the image was confirmed to be fake, with fans expressing relief and humor over the edited nature of the photo.

• Grok, an AI bot on X, confirmed the photo's inauthenticity, indicating that the NBA Centel's reputation for parody content and lack of credible verification from reliable sources ensured the image was not genuine.

• The incident occurred just as the Timberwolves were gearing up for their Western Conference Semifinal against the Golden State Warriors, creating buzz and adding an unexpected storyline to the team's playoff journey.

• Fans have long joked about the resemblance between Edwards and Jordan, fueling the photo's impact, although the focus remains on Edwards' performance rather than his appearance.

• Matthew Wadleigh, the writer covering the story, is a seasoned journalist with a background in sports writing, contributing to various notable publications and drawing from his personal experiences as a sports enthusiast.

• The Minnesota Timberwolves advanced to the Western Conference Semifinal round against the Golden State Warriors after defeating LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers in five games. 

• The Warriors took seven games to get past the No. 2 seed Houston Rockets. Now, these teams battle it out for a spot in the Conference Finals.

• Ahead of the series, Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards went viral for a photo of him being bald. When it surfaced, fans asked the same question: Did Edwards go bald?

• Here's everything you need to know about the photo.

• MORE: Anthony Edwards details trash talk to Lakers fan that cameras didn't catch 

• Did Anthony Edwards go bald?

  No, Edwards did not go bald. The photo of the Timberwolves star looking like Michael Jordan is edited.

• New Look ANT. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Uo006UB0ow

• — NBACentel (@TheNBACentel) May 3, 2025 The physical resemblance between Edwards and the NBA GOAT only grew with this photo being posted on social media. It doesn't help that fans have been wondering for a while (albeit jokingly) whether or not Edwards is Jordan's son. 

• But this photo is indeed fake. How do we know? 

• For starters, the account NBA Centel is a parody account that had already received a temporary ban on X earlier in the year. The account's bio also clearly says PARODY ACCOUNT. 

• The initial photo, which was posted by NBA Centel on May 3, has eight million views as of Monday morning, and some fans were hoping that it was fake. 

• "that better be edited or im gonna crash out," one fan replied. 

• MORE: Why fans believe Anthony Edwards is Michael Jordan's son

• Fans also asked Grok, X's AI bot that answers questions. But Grok confirmed that the NBA Centel account is a parody account, making this photo 100% fake. 

• "However, @TheNBACentel is a known parody account, and there's no solid confirmation from credible sources to verify the image. Recent articles focus on Edwards' performance, not his appearance, leaving the claim uncertain. It’s possible, but I’d take it with a grain of salt until official sources confirm," Grok replied. 

• Edwards going bald right before the series against the Warriors would've been shocking, but that isn't the case — at least as of now. 

• MORE TIMBERWOLVES NEWS:

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  • NBA analyst gives Anthony Edwards proposition to be crowned ‘face of the league’