How USA Basketball's Anthony Edwards is impressing his mentors LeBron James and Kevin Durant at Paris 2024 Olympics
He may not be the No. 1 option on Team USA, yet Anthony Edwards may be the most entertaining and engaging player on the roster, the future of American basketball with his array of moves and bubbly personality.
He led his team with 26 points in their Group B pasting of Puerto Rico, wowing the fans at Pierre Mauroy Arena with a windmill dunk to cap a U.S. run on the way to a No. 1 seed in the quarter-finals and matchup Tuesday with Brazil.
“I already told KD (Kevin Durant) after the timeout, 'If I get a break, I'm gonna windmill it.'” He said with a bright smile. “I wanted to go between the legs, but I ain't tried it in a minute and I didn't want to embarrass myself.”
LILLE, FRANCE - JULY 28: Kevin Durant #7 and Anthony Edwards #5 of Team United States high five during the first half of the Men's Group Phase - Group C game between Serbia and the United States on day two of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade Pierre Mauroy on July 28, 2024 in Lille, France. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Edwards is one of the NBA’s bright young stars and his inclusion on this team is a sign of the team’s future. But the Minnesota Timberwolves standout also declared himself the No. 1 option on a team with future Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famers such as Durant, LeBron James and Stephen Curry. One can never tell when Edwards is joking or serious but he definitely plays with a confidence and swagger that proves he’s not daunted by any challenge.
He has become the mentee of James and Durant, using those superstars as guides, but also showing them that’s closing in on their prowess.
“It was incredible to watch him go to work (Saturday) — knock down shots, get to the rim that easily, just play his game,” Durant said of Edwards. “He had fun tonight, he ignited the whole crowd, he ignited the team.”
Durant was asked whether he saw any similarities between him and Edwards.
"Sometimes,” he said. “He approaches the game almost the same way mentally, wanting to be the best he can be every day. Defensively, I think that's what separates him, puts him in that class of great players already is that he locks in on the defensive side of the ball. Nah, I can't teach somebody that good anything. He picks up stuff so quickly, he's a natural.”
What has occurred during this Olympic experience for Edwards is a deeper bond with Durant and James. When Edwards was born in 2001, James was a high school phenom at St. Vincent-St. Mary’s in Akron, Ohio and Durant was an AAU standout in the Washington D.C. area. There is definitely a generation gap, but that gap has decreased over the past few weeks.
“Hell yeah. (Durant) and Bron. They're the best two people, team players, they always want to see the person next to them shine,” Edwards said. “I'm the same way, so it's perfect.”
James, who is fourth all-time in assists in NBA history, is a willing distributor and he has set up Edwards with a variety of crisp passes, encouraging his younger teammate to shoot. Edwards loves this.
"Hell yeah. He loves to pass it to me,” Edwards said. “I love to catch it and shoot it. I told him, 'If you've got no shot, I'll find one.’”
Edwards has drawn the adulation of coach Steve Kerr, who has given him a primary scoring responsibility with the second unit.
“Anthony can score anytime in any situation,” Kerr said. “The benefit of having a guy like that is, in a tight situation, you need a shot, you know he can get one. I think this has been a great experience for him. He loves Kevin. Kevin’s kind of his idol and he's learning from him. We're trying to help him take another step. He's still a very young player.
“You saw Saturday the talent is overwhelming and as he continues to learn how to use it and be efficient in his play, he'll be unguardable.”
Gary Washburn is an Olympic Channel correspondent and National NBA Writer for the Boston Globe.