NBA’s Anthony Edwards Accused Ex of ‘Sabotage’ in Paternity Fight

As NBA star Anthony Edwards makes headlines for one paternity case, another legal battle in which the athlete accused a former partner of harassment in a separate paternity battle has surfaced. 

The Minnesota Timberwolves player, 23, said ex partner Daja Carlyle engaged in “unsolicited harassing communication” in a legal fight over their daughter Aris, who was born in 2023, according to documents filed in April and obtained by Us Weekly. In Touch was the first to report the news. 

Edwards’ attorney accused Carlyle of sending text messages to “individuals associated” with the basketball star in a motion. The texts allegedly contained “threats” about what she would do if Edwards and his team did not “abide by her demands.”

“There is no rhyme or reason for [Carlyle] to contact individuals who work for [Anthony],” the motion reads. “They do not work for her, they do not answer to her, and they are not there for her to communicate with, nor do they want to speak with her. They are also not involved in these proceedings.”

The motion, which was filed 10 days before the Timberwolves’ start to the NBA playoffs, said Carlyle’s behavior was causing “unnecessary conflict and stress” for Edwards.

“This attempt to sabotage the Father’s personal and professional relationships must end,” the motion stated. 

In response, Carlyle denied engaging in harassing behavior. 

Us Weekly has reached out to both Edwards and Carlyle, but has not heard back by the time of publication. 

The motion was filed in relation to a paternity lawsuit filed by Edwards in February, which sought to name him as the biological father to Aris. In documents obtained by Us, Edwards asked that he be awarded joint legal and physical custody of the daughter.

In a response filed in March, Carlyle requested child support from Edwards and demanded primary physical custody, agreeing with Edwards’ request for joint legal custody. 

Edwards and Carlyle agreed to a child support payment plan in April, which saw Edwards agree to pay $5,000 per month. However, in a motion filed in September, Edwards argued Carlyle was seeking an unnecessary increase in support.

“[Carlyle] claims to earn approximately $8,000.00 annually, even though that is nearly impossible,” the motion stated. “Regardless, the Mother is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed. She runs a business, MyPrettiBody, which is registered to her, and for which she manages a bank account that receives and transfers several thousand dollars each month.”

Edwards’ attorney added, “What is also clear is that the Mother is trying to use child support as a means to make it so that she does not have to work. The Mother is voluntarily unemployed or underemployed, claiming to make less than minimum wage. She has no disability. And she refuses to provide the bank statements to show how she spends her money on the child.”

Carlyle and Edwards reached a confidential settlement regarding paternity, custody and child support payments on September 12. 

Edwards is currently in the midst of a separate paternity lawsuit, this one involving a woman named Ayesha Howard. 

Earlier this month, Edwards filed a motion requesting DNA testing of a baby girl, delivered by Howard, born on October 14. 

In the paperwork  — which was filed October 15, the day after Howard gave birth — Edwards asked for DNA testing by a “neutral and licensed laboratory” to determine if he is the father.