Team USA will be gunning for Gold at the 2024 Paris Olympics with an incredibly stacked roster to make up for the team’s non-medal finish at the 2023 FIBA World Cup. Anthony Edwards will feature prominently on Team USA at the Olympics, with the Timberwolves star claiming he’s the No. 1 option and everyone else will fit in around him.
“I’m still the number one option. Y’all might look at it differently, I don’t care… I gotta go out there and do myself. Shoot my shots, play defense, they got to fit in to play around me. That’s how I feel.”
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
Edwards’ confidence is unmatched, especially knowing the names on Team USA for the 2024 Olympics. The leader of the team is unquestionably LeBron James, as he’s joined by other Finals MVPs and modern day legends such as Stephen Curry, Kawhi Leonard, and Kevin Durant.
Edwards and James are already working on their connection on the court in Team USA scrimmages.
LeBron x Anthony Edwards duo. 🔥
(via @usabasketball)
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) July 7, 2024
Edwards will be fighting for the starting shooting guard spot with Devin Booker, with one of the two star guards likely coming off the bench. Edwards rebuked coming off the bench at the FIBA World Cup last year because there was no one with Kobe Bryant’s caliber in front of him, but Team USA do have a microwave scorer like Booker to consider.
There seems to be no tension between the rival shooting guards at scrimmage, with Edwards even encouraging Booker while he was shooting.
Anthony Edwards to Book🎯
“Knockdown Book Knockdown Book”
Ant and Book gonna fry the world all summer 🇺🇸🔥pic.twitter.com/DMULR91xYg
— 𝘚𝘵𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘢☆ (@Stunna999_) July 7, 2024
Edwards had eyes glued to him during Team USA’s first practice and scrimmage sessions, impressing onlookers with his fluid display on the court. He also doesn’t look out of place with the NBA’s biggest stars, an excellent sign for how he’s heading into next season.
Some of Anthony Edwards scrimmaging toward the end of Team USA practice. pic.twitter.com/tTnkSYIxKm
— Chris Hine (@ChristopherHine) July 7, 2024
Edwards solidified himself as a star in the NBA last season, averaging 25.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 5.1 assists while leading the Timberwolves to contend for the No. 1 seed all season.
He led the Wolves to the Western Conference Finals, sweeping Team USA teammates Kevin Durant and Devin Booker before eliminating the reigning champions in a seven-game series in the second round. While he was eliminated by Luka Doncic‘s Mavericks, Edwards has proven himself as a top-10 player in the NBA who will expect a big role for Team USA at the Olympics.
Will Anthony Edwards Be A Starter?
When it comes to how Team USA will line up to star games at Paris 2024, everyone can agree on four of the five starters the team will use. Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, and Joel Embiid seem penciled in to start, leaving one spot open for a long list of All-NBA caliber players.
There is a hole in the traditional shooting guard position, making Edwards and Booker the likely frontrunners to take that spot. However, if Steve Kerr wants to play their best available five, he could run LeBron as the point guard while inserting either Anthony Davis or Jayson Tatum as the power forward, depending on the situation.
Outside Booker, Edwards, Tatum, and AD, it doesn’t seem like anyone else is in contention for a starting spot. Kawhi Leonard could make his presence felt, but he likely will have a small load given injuries ended his season in the Playoffs.
Edwards would be a phenomenal choice, but it’s likely they go for Booker’s pure scoring ability to start games and use Ant as a Swiss Army knife on the wing as games progress.
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