Anthony Edwards, of the United States, reacts after a three against South Sudan in a men’s basketball game at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Wednesday, July 31, 2024, in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, France. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Seemingly spared from Steve Kerr’s experimentation with player rotations in the Paris Summer Games is Anthony Edwards, the youngest standout in the fancied United States squad.
The 22-year-old Edwards is playing 19 minutes per game, which is a shade better than seasoned veterans and Olympic gold winners Anthony Davis, Jrue Holiday and Bam Adebayo.
So far, the Minnesota Timberwolves cornerstone is proving that he is worth Kerr’s nod—which has become under scrutiny following the benching of Jayson Tatum, Tyrese Haliburton, and former MVP Joel Embiid. Edwards had 11 points against the Serbians in his Olympic debut and then 13 against South Sudan in the quarterfinal-clinching win last Thursday.
“I just go out there and be myself,” Edwards said in a recent interview published on the USA Basketball website. “I go out there, shoot my shots and play defense.”
‘Waiting to take over’
Edwards has been etching his name in the Americans’ bid that also features Steph Curry, who is playing his first-ever Olympics; Kevin Durant further raising the all-time Olympic scoring mark, and LeBron James likely playing swan song in the Summer Games.
“There’s definitely a sense that he’s one of the guys waiting to take over the [NBA] once LeBron, Steph and Kevin kind of move on,” Kerr said of Edwards, a member of the US team that competed and missed out on a podium finish in the World Cup here in Manila last year.
“I think there’s definitely an awareness that he’s part of that next group, but he’s ready for that to happen now.”
Edwards is expected to make key contributions for the Americans as they gun for a sweep of Group C play against Puerto Rico this Saturday, 11:15 p.m. (Manila time).
And that’s only one proof how outrageously talented this team is, according to James.
“We’ve got 12 guys that can go out and get the job done any given night,” James said shortly after the US’ 103-86 conquest of South Sudan last Thursday.
“The second lineup came in and did that tonight for us. Defensively that’s where it started, then offensively they were great as well.”
“I think we need to give these guys more credit,” Kerr said. “They’re here to win a gold medal. They’re pros, they’re committed to each other. Every game’s going to be a little different. We’ll figure out what we need to do to win.”