The U.S. men's basketball team for the Paris Olympics played their first exhibition game against Team Canada on Tuesday night. After a slow start, the Americans handled their business with ease.
In a team full of NBA stars, the Minnesota Timberwolves' 22-year-old superstar Anthony Edwards led the Americans in scoring with 13 points. With his performance, Boston Celtics Hall of Famer Paul Pierce believes Ant-Man established himself as the team's leader.
"To me, I think the clear leader of this team is Ant-Man," said Pierce. "Because what I saw was the USA team started the older guys Steph, LeBron and got off to a slow start, but they've only been in training camp for four days and so not having a lot of practice. But I noticed that the game changed when Ant-Man got in, Tatum, Anthony Davis. It's like his personality took over the U.S. team."
Team USA overcame a slow start
Head coach Steve Kerr started LeBron James, Steph Curry, Joel Embiid, Jrue Holiday, and Devin Booker with D-Book at the point guard spot. But Team USA fell behind early in the first quarter, 1-11. They managed to claw back, but the Canadians were determined to pull off the upset.
However, the game's complexion changed when Kerr inserted Edwards, Jayson Tatum, and Anthony Davis. With better defense and a faster pace, they could establish control of the game and keep the Canadians at bay. Team USA eventually pulled away and ended up winning the game 86-72.
"Once he came in and made it clear because you know, he half-heartedly joked but I know he was kind of serious, like 'Hey, y'all gotta play through me, you gotta play around me, you gotta build it through me.' I know he was kind of jokingly saying it, but I felt he really meant it, in a certain kind of way because that's what it looked like when he came into the game and the U.S. was struggling and they needed a jolt in the arm, he was that one," added Pierce.
Related: "You are repeatedly unavailable for the people who pay you" - Stephen A. Smith goes off on Kawhi Leonard for trying to play for Team USA
Edwards claimed that he is the No.1 option
Ant-Man's performance comes after he notoriously claimed last week that despite playing alongside LeBron, Steph, and KD, he is still the number one option on the Paris team, as he was with last year's U.S. World Cup team. Many thought he was joking, including Pierce, but he wasn't.
"I'm still the number one option. Y'all might look at it differently," Edwards said. "I just go out there and be myself. Shoot my shots, and play defense. They've got to fit in to play around me. That's how I feel."
Well, Ant-Man did what he said, and that's impressive for a kid his age playing amongst the biggest stars of this era. As Pierce added, there's no doubt that Edwards is going to be a big international superstar even before the 2024 Paris Olympics are over.
Related: “When he gets the opportunity to make noise, he will make noise” - Shaq reveals Anthony Edwards' ceiling and why he is crucial for Team USA in the Olympics
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