With the crowd pulsating in Lille, France, three of the game's iconic players took a backseat to a soon-to-be 23-year-old. On one possession in the fourth quarter, Kevin Durant , who's recently livened the conversation of the greatest men's basketball Olympian ever, watched as he stood a little over by Anthony Edwards ' right hip, sensing that the young guard was beginning to feed off the crowd's energy. No. 5 sized up his man and drove inside for two points.
On the ensuing possession, this time, it was Durant who brought the ball past half-court before dumping it back to Edwards. Dripping with confidence, Ant-Man hit a step-back 3-pointer and ran back down the court as No. 7 saluted him with a nod.
Powered by the guard's 26 points, Team USA routed Puerto 104-83 and clinched the top seed in the medal round. Entering pool play, the Minnesota star said—half-joking, half-serious—that he was the team's No. 1 option.
On Saturday, he looked every bit as such—and then some. Sharing the court with three players— LeBron James , Durant, Stephen Curry —that he grew up watching, Edwards not shying from a preeminent role is just one of the many notches in his pursuit of taking over the NBA. But for now, he's just soaking in the moment little by little, understanding that this opportunity probably won't reoccur.
"Growing up watching KD and Bron go at it in the Finals, then watching Steph and Bron go at it in the Finals, it's a dream come true that I get to play alongside of those guys," Edwards said after the game before adding, "They're three of the greatest players ever. The fact that they were letting me put on a show shows a lot, shows their character that they're willing to do anything to win the game."
An opportunity of a lifetime
It's been quite an eventful spring into summer for the Georgia product. Seizing the thrill of going up against Durant in a playoff series, Edwards imposed his will over the Phoenix Suns in the first round of the NBA playoffs, growing Minnesota's confidence with every made basket while crushing his opponent's.
Sweeping the KD-led Suns became the initial torch-passing moment of 2024. Now, Anthony is taking it several steps further by doing it on a team littered with the stars of yesteryear.
On Saturday, he was the beneficiary of James' pretty table-setting and Durant's fear-striking perimeter game. Edwards spurred the crowd with his breakaway windmill jam, showcasing his eye-popping leaping ability. As he got more comfortable and Team USA's lead grew, he realized just what a treat it is to operate freely without feeling like he's stepping on his teammate's toes.
"KD and Bron, man, they're the best two people. I mean, team players. They always want to see the person next to him shine," Ant said . "I told Bron, 'If you ain't got no shot, I'll find one.'"
It just felt like that kind of day for Edwards, who turns 23 on Aug. 5. He christened the explosive highlights with his 15 points in the first 10 minutes of the contest. Going relatively quiet during the team's previous two wins, Saturday may have paved the way for one of the game's exciting young stars to take over as the U.S. vyes for gold.
The outlook for Team USA
To the surprise of very few, the Americans have taken off in their first three games, securing victories against Serbia, South Sudan, and Puerto Rico, each by double-digits. They exit group play undefeated and will now shift their focus to the quarterfinals, which begin on Tuesday.
The U.S. will play Brazil to open up the following round of games. With timeless James playing more point guard, Durant showcasing his infinite bag of tricks, and Edwards being raised to the pedestal, Team USA takes their already buzzing credence as the favorite and looks to secure a fifth-straight gold medal.
Related: Steve Kerr on why Devin Booker has started every game for Team USA: "He's probably been the guy who's been most adaptable"
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