Anthony Edwards is exuding confidence like never before. As a rising MVP candidate who just spearheaded the Minnesota Timberwolves to their first conference finals in two decades, Edwards is gearing up for a pivotal role with the U.S. men’s Olympic team in Paris. And by pivotal, he means top dog. Edwards firmly believes he can be the primary scorer on a roster brimming with basketball legends like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Jayson Tatum, Joel Embiid, and Kevin Durant.
Timberwolves’ Anthony Edwards on how he fits in with USA Basketball Olympic team: “I’m still the number one option. Y’all might look at it differently. … They’ve got to fit in around me. That’s how I feel.” pic.twitter.com/Cga5kTiR2J
— Ben Golliver (@BenGolliver) July 7, 2024
“I’m still the No. 1 option,” Edwards declared to reporters at Team USA’s training camp in Las Vegas. “Y’all might see it differently, but I don’t.”
When asked to elaborate on being the leading scorer amidst such an elite company, Edwards didn’t hold back.
“I just go out there and be myself,” he explained. “Shoot my shots, play defense, and, you know. They’ve gotta fit in to play around me. That’s how I feel.”
“They’ve gotta fit in to play around me.” Bold words from a 22-year-old with just four NBA seasons and five post-high-school years of experience. To assert that LeBron and Curry are essentially his support staff in Paris is nothing short of audacious.
But you’ve got to admire his confidence. Edwards has earned the right to be this brash. He recently ousted Durant and Devin Booker, both of whom are his Olympic teammates, in the playoffs, and he was the standout player on the court. He’s an electrifying scorer, an evolving playmaker, and a defensive powerhouse. He has the potential to be the best player in the league very soon, and he truly believes that time is now.
While Steve Kerr will likely say there’s not much to read into it, the lineup on the floor as the media enters practice — Curry, Edwards, Tatum, James, Embiid — feels like a possible option to be the starting group against Canada on Wednesday night.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) July 8, 2024
That being said, the exact starting lineup for Paris remains uncertain, though Edwards is likely to be in it. Fans might catch their first glimpse of a starting five featuring Curry, Edwards, Tatum, LeBron, and Embiid when the U.S. faces Canada in a tune-up match on Wednesday night.
Regardless of who starts or the roles each player adopts, this U.S. team is loaded with talent. And Anthony Edwards , once again, has every reason to believe he’s the cream of the crop, even if it might not be the reality. Yet.
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