Anthony Edwards, the Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star, has become one of the key players on Team USA as they prepare for their FIBA World Cup opener against New Zealand. In the team’s five tune-up exhibition games, Edwards has been averaging a team-best 19.2 points. However, there was a time when he wasn’t considered a starter.
Originally, Team USA head coach Steve Kerr had planned for Edwards to come off the bench, with Cam Johnson of the Brooklyn Nets starting in his place. Kerr reached out to Edwards before the camp and mentioned the example of Dwyane Wade, who had willingly come off the bench to support Kobe Bryant on the 2008 Olympic team.
Edwards admitted that he didn’t like the comparison to Wade and Bryant, but he understood the reasoning behind it.
“I mean, of course I wasn’t cool with it,” Edwards said on Thursday. “If that’s what it takes, I mean, I am willing to do it, but nah, I’m never cool with that. … He said Dwyane Wade came off the bench when Kobe played. I was like, all right, we don’t have a Kobe, but all right. But it was cool.”
Edwards was not trying to diminish his teammates on Team USA, as they are not the same household names as the 2008 Redeem Team. The current squad consists of up-and-coming talents like Edwards, Jalen Brunson, Tyrese Haliburton, Jaren Jackson Jr., Austin Reaves, and Brandon Ingram, rather than established legends.
Edwards solidified his position as Team USA’s leading player with a 34-point performance in an exhibition win over Germany. He scored 12 of those points in the fourth quarter.
Coach Kerr, as well as forward Mikal Bridges and assistant coach Erik Spoelstra, all agree that Edwards has become a standout player for the team.
The first FIBA World Cup game for Team USA will be against New Zealand on Saturday at 8:40 a.m. ET. They will also face Greece and Jordan in their group stage matchups on Monday and Wednesday. The full schedule and results can be found here.
