Report: Anthony Edwards aims to be Team USA starter at Paris Olympics
Anthony Edwards doesn't just want to go to the Olympics, he wants to start for Team USA in Paris this summer, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania.
After the sports world woke up Tuesday morning to highlights of Edwards' monstrous dunk over John Collins, Charania said he's been told that Edwards is "a guy that will be on the 2024 USA Basketball Olympic team in Paris."
But not just on the team. He's supposedly aiming to be a starter for Team USA.
"I'm told Anthony Edwards fully wants to go and compete to start on this team," Charania said.
Edwards was a member of the U.S. team that finished fourth at the 2023 FIBA World Cup. The Wolves guard led Team USA with 18.9 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.
USA Basketball is looking to repeat as champs after winning the gold medal at the 2021 (delayed from 2020 due to the pandemic) Olympics in Japan. Numerous reports have stars like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Steph Curry and Joel Embiid, just to name a few, lining up to hit the court this summer for the U.S.
Edwards has been a huge part of the Wolves sitting at, or near, the top of the Western Conference for a majority of the 2023-24 season. Minnesota enters play Tuesday just a half game back of the Thunder for the No. 1 spot in the West. The 22-year-old leads Minnesota in minutes (35.2 per game) and points (26.6) while his 4.0 Defensive Win Shares is second on the team only behind Rudy Gobert.
"Minnesota is competing for No. 1 in the league," Charania continued. "Anthony Edwards is competing to try to be the No. 1 player in the league as well."
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) dribbles as LA Clippers guard Bones Hyland (5) defends during the first half at Target Center in Minneapolis on March 3, 2024.
Matt Krohn / USA TODAY Sports
