United States’ Anthony Edwards dunks during a men’s basketball game against Puerto Rico at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Saturday, Aug. 3, 2024, in Villeneuve-d’Ascq, France. (Gregory Shamus/Pool Photo via AP)
VILLENEUVE-D’ASCQ, France–Anthony Edwards is having the time of his life at these Paris Olympics.
The 22-year-old NBA star is making the most of his first Olympics appearance with the U.S. men’s basketball team. He’s playing alongside his idol Kevin Durant, watching table tennis in Paris on off days, and adding to his stardom with big games like his 26-point effort in the U.S. win over Puerto Rico.
And it has invigorated him to do what he wasn’t able do in last year’s World Cup and enhance his experience in the international spotlight with the ultimate souvenir — a gold medal.
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Durant is marveling at Edwards’ growth on the court.
“It was incredible to watch him go to work,” Durant said. “Knock down shots, get to the rim that easily. Just play his game and have fun. … It ignited the whole crowd. He ignited our team.”
Most of all, as the youngest player on the U.S. team, Edwards is providing a burst of youthful energy to a roster in which its most-accomplished stars – Durant, Stephen Curry and LeBron James – are all at least 35 years old.
When the ball can go to Edwards for plays like the windmill dunk he had against Puerto Rico, it does.
“When we see him 1-on-1 up top, when we see him with an opportunity to go at the other team – we swing him the ball,” Durant said. “So, it’s fun playing with him.”
On the dunk, Edwards acknowledged it was something he’d been planning.
“I had already told K after the timeout. ‘Like, bruh, if I get a break, like, I’m going to windmill it,’” Edwards said. “I wanted to go between your legs, but I ain’t tried it in a minute. So I didn’t want to embarrass myself.”
He said getting to share a basketball court with Durant and LeBron James is “everything I ever dreamed of.”
“Him and Bron, they’re the best two people,” Edwards said. “Team players, they always want to see the person next to them shine. I’m the same way. So it’s perfect.”
And James loves getting the ball into Edwards’ hands.
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“He loves to pass it to me and I love to catch it and shoot it,” Edwards said of James. “I told him, if you ain’t got no shot, I’ll find one.”
He’s also not ashamed to explore some of his passions.
Edwards enjoys playing table tennis against his U.S teammates and on one of the basketball team’s days off last week he was spotted supporting fellow U.S. Olympic athlete Lily Zhang during her table tennis singles match.
“I’m playing alongside the greatest players of all time. And I’m able to go see ping pong” Edwards said. “I think the championship rounds are (on Sunday), if I’m not mistaken. I’m hoping. I’ll be there if it is.”
As the U.S. basketball team now turns its attention to the quarterfinal round, Edwards said everyone is focused on not succumbing to the fate of last year’s World Cup team, which lost in the semifinals to eventual champion Germany and then to Canada in the third-place game.
“It’s the knockout rounds. All the teams in it are really good teams,” he said. “They’ve got NBA players and compete at a high level. It’s supposed to be hard.”