Following Team USA’s first practice, a reporter asked Anthony Edwards how he fits on an Olympic team littered with current All-Stars and future Hall of Famers. His answer went viral on social media.
“I’m still the No. 1 option,” said Edwards. “Y’all might look at it differently, but I don’t look at it no different.”
Edwards led the Minnesota Timberwolves five games deep in the Western Conference Finals, deeper in the playoffs than the team had ever been. He averaged 25.9 points through 79 regular season games and 27.6 points in the playoffs – 11th most in the league. He was also named to his second All-Star game. However, Edwards, 22, is the youngest player on Team USA by an average of 8.8 years.
Saying he is the No. 1 option was a bold claim, but it wasn’t outlandish or unusual for Edwards to make. He registered 13 points on 6 of 10 from the floor in Team USA’s first preliminary game against Team Canada. And after three games in the Basketball Showcase, Ant had the most points on Team USA.
Still, Edwards isn’t a regular starter on Team USA. Steve Kerr started him in only one of the five preliminary games, bringing him off the bench against Serbia on Sunday.
While the young star has been one of the USA’s best players, he has to handle a different role when sharing the court with some of America’s best players. It’s a role he hasn’t had since probably before high school. However, it can benefit Edwards as he prepares to lead the Timberwolves to their first Finals appearance in franchise history.
When Ant subbed into the USA’s first official Olympic game against Nikola Jokić and Serbia, he made an immediate impact. Team USA trailed by one point with 5:10 left in the first quarter. Atlanta Hawks guard Bogdan Bogdanović attacked into the paint with Edwards at his hip. Bogdanović had a good angle and momentum. Still, Ant recovered, swatted the layup attempt, gathered the rebound, and passed to Devin Booker in one motion.
The rejection and save led to a LeBron James breakaway layup, which he converted through two defenders. It was Edwards’ first possession of the game. He didn’t make an impressive dunk or cross over his defender. Still, he was pumped up as if he did when he came to give James a chest bump. Ant wasn’t the one who created the highlight, but he set it up.
“I’m just going to go out there and be myself, Edwards said on July 7 with a smile. “[I’m going to] shoot my shots and play defense. They have to fit in around me. That’s how I feel.”
Edwards is Minnesota’s most important and dominant player. Opponents will double or even triple-team him because they know they’re more likely to win if they can neutralize his scoring. Chris Finch always needs Ant to carry the bulk of the offensive load. After all, Minnesota’s front office has quickly built the roster around him. However, as with all the players, Edwards is more of a complementary player on Team USA.
Most of USA’s players know they can score at an All-Star level, but that’s not what will win them a gold medal. Many countries like South Sudan, which is playing in its first Olympics, don’t have multiple NBA-caliber players. However, they play with and for each other. At the international level, it’s paramount that players play with continuity and dominate in their roles.
Against Serbia, Edwards scored 11 points and grabbed five rebounds, going 4 of 6 from the floor and 2 of 3 from deep. More importantly, Team USA outscored Serbia by 16 points in his 19:29 minutes. That final stat line isn’t particularly impressive, especially when Kevin Durant registered 23 points on 8 of 9 from the floor. However, Ant immediately impacted both sides of the floor, dominating his role.
His block midway through the first quarter, which led to a breakaway layup, sparked a 14-8 run over the final five minutes of the frame. Ant injected life into his team while not being the leading scorer or dominating during prolonged stretches.
Edwards is playing in his first Olympics and isn’t in the prime of his career yet. Not many players his age get the opportunity to represent their country on the biggest stage. It doesn’t matter if Ant is Team USA’s No. 1 option. Whether he starts or comes off the bench, he has a complementary role and is learning from the greatest current American players.
Hopefully, the Wolves won’t need Edwards to take a backup role until he’s nearing retirement in his late 30s and has multiple champions and MVP trophies. However, this Olympic experience of not being his team’s best player is something Ant can hold onto for the rest of his career, starting immediately next season.
You don’t always need to be the leading scorer to be the best player on the floor. Sometimes, deciding to pass up the flashy play to make the right play can lead you to the ultimate goal. For Ant and the Wolves, that’s to hoist its first Larry O’Brien trophy in its 35-year franchise history.
