As the 2024 Paris Olympics approach, Anthony Edwards has an unparalleled opportunity early in his NBA career. Not only will he be competing for an Olympic gold medal, but he’ll continue his campaign to be the next face of the NBA. Edwards’ first Olympics is a great storyline, where emerging stars are given the mantle to lead alongside longtime veterans. This dynamic offers a unique lens through which the future of NBA basketball can be viewed, and who the greats will pass the proverbial torch to.
Previous Team USA Experience
Anthony Edwards has garnered significant recognition at just 22 years old. After making serious noise in the 2024 playoffs, Edwards is looking to add hardware. Coming in 4th place in his first appearance with Team USA he doesn’t even have a lousy medal. Edwards’ performance at the FIBA World Cup was the shining part of the 2023 campaign for the U.S.
He averaged 18.9 points per game and led the team in scoring and minutes played. It wasn’t the flashiest roster in Team USA history, but he lead the way. His remarkable scoring ability was on full display when he tied Carmelo Anthony’s record for the second-highest scoring total from a U.S. player in a single FIBA World Cup game, scoring 35 points against Lithuania. He won’t have to do all the heavy lifting in the Olympics, but his mindset has not shifted.
“I’m Still the Number One Option”
Safe to say Edwards is not shying away from the opportunity. From watching his teammates win titles growing up, to now competing with them. Anthony Edwards’ inclusion on this roster has his readiness to blend with basketball luminaries like Steph, LeBron, and KD under the microscope. Whether you like that he believes he is the “number one option” or not, his approach is straightforward. You have to defend, fit in, and do the right things to maintain his presence on the court. Everyone on the team is capable of scoring and being the focal points, but it’s how you treat the little things that will get you on the court late in the game.
This humble yet strategic mindset is pivotal, especially when considering the high-stakes environment. That comment could set the fire needed on the rest of the roster. This is one of the better USA rosters assembled following that disappointing 2023 FIBA campaign. It usually takes the US falling off the throne entirely to get the best to commit so early.
These practices are not just routine practices. They are intense, and highly competitive; used for establishing dominance and hierarchy within the team. In a once in a career opportunity, Edwards sees it as a chance to assert himself.
Anthony Edwards on how he fits in with Team USA:
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) July 7, 2024
“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.”
(via @BenGolliver)
pic.twitter.com/ru4eqfrDuZ
Steve Kerr on Anthony Edwards’ comments that he’s the No. 1 option on this #USABMNT squad: “I love that [he] said that… I want him to think that way, and I want five, six other guys to feel that way too. That’s the beauty of being on this team…” pic.twitter.com/31EfoJ0h6a
— Mason Williams (@mvsonwilliams) July 9, 2024
Training Camp and Exhibition Games
Anthony Edwards made a significant impact off the bench for Team USA in their 86-72 exhibition victory over Canada on Wednesday night. Contributing 13 points, Edwards not only provided a scoring boost, but also brought crucial momentum to the team like his buzzer-beater three-pointer at the end of the third quarter.
This strong performance is crucial, as I’m sure Anthony Edwards wants to crack the starting lineup. These exhibition games are vital for fine-tuning strategies and building team chemistry. Now it’s up to Steve Kerr to put the pieces together for their fourth quarter closing lineup. Even if Edwards doesn’t start, his standout performance positions him as one of the trusted five to close out games in crunch time. Even if that means someone like Jrue Holiday or Devin Booker heads to the bench.
Let the Games Begin
The significance of Edwards’ role in Team USA extends beyond personal accolades. This Summer Olympics encapsulates a broader narrative of the generational transition within basketball. From idolizing his teammates growing up, to potentially being the one they give the ball to in crunch time; the stakes for Edwards and Team USA are a little higher than usual. With his proven ability to thrive under pressure, he is ushering in new era for American basketball, characterized by a seamless blend of youthful vigor, taught by a handful of seasoned veterans. Thus, Anthony Edwards does not merely seek to be a participant, as he declares himself as the primary impact player grasping the torch from the hands of already made NBA legends.
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