Even though this is his first Olympic team, it appears no one told Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards to distance himself from the rest of the team.
After leading his team to the NBA Western Conference Finals, Edwards’ confidence has only grown.
This makes him feel like one of the best players on a team with LeBron James and Kevin Durant, among others.
“I’m still the number one option,” Edwards told reporters in Las Vegas on Sunday.
‘You may look at it differently, but I don’t look at it differently. I just go out there and be myself.
Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards backs himself on this Olympic team
Edwards (5) will play alongside players like LeBron James (center) and Anthony Davis (R)
“I shoot my shots, defend them and they have to adapt to me and deal with me. That’s how I feel.”
This season was a breakthrough for Edwards, who established himself as the Timberwolves’ franchise player and set Minnesota up for bigger and better things to come.
Last season, he averaged 25.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.1 assists on 46.1 percent shooting from the field and 35.7 percent from behind the three-point line.
But he ends up in a team where he is not expected to do everything himself.
In terms of guards alone, Edwards will be up against superstars like Stephen Curry and Devin Booker. Rising star Tyrese Haliburton will also be on the team, as will NBA champion Jrue Holiday.
The rest of the team consists of Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, Jayson Tatum, Anthony Davis, Bam Adebayo and Joel Embiid.