Anthony Edwards raised eyebrows early in training camp a few weeks ago by confidently declaring he was Team USA's No. 1 scoring option. While that hasn't quite come to fruition in Paris, the Minnesota Timberwolves superstar seems thrilled with his role for an absolutely loaded American squad regardless.
Why? Getting to come off the bench alongside his childhood idol turned Olympic teammate, Kevin Durant.
After Steve Kerr's revamped reserve unit spearheaded Team USA's, 103-86, win over South Sudan in Group C on Wednesday, clinching a berth in the Olympic quarterfinals, Edwards explained the self-serving reason he "loves" that Durant has emerged as the United States' sixth man.
“I love that he’s coming off the bench," a laughing Edwards said of Durant, per Sam Amick of The Athletic . "I get to play with him, so I hope coach keeps bringing him off the bench. I get to pass it to him. He gets to pass it back. That’s probably one of my biggest dreams ever, so that’s dope."
Durant has been dominant for Team USA since returning from a lingering calf injury in Wednesdsay's Olympic-opening win over Serbia. After pouring in 21 first-half points versus Nikola Jokic and company while splashing jumpers all over the floor, the Phoenix Suns superstar finished with a hyper-efficient 14 points, three assists and three steals against South Sudan.
Durant and Edwards, obviously, are talented enough to start for the United States, but the Americans' team-wide willingness to sacrifice individual glory for the greater good in Paris is clearly paying off, making them overwhelming favorites to take home gold as the Olympics' knockout stage looms on August 6th.
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