Anthony Edwards is a confident guy.
The Minnesota Timberwolves rising star is one of 12 key members of the U.S. basketball team for the Paris Olympics.
Others on the list include Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry, Phoenix Suns’ Kevin Durant and Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum.
But according to Edwards, none of them are the first choice for the Olympic team. Who is it? “Myself,” Edwards said Sunday.
“I’m still the first choice,” Edwards said when asked how he would fit on a star-studded team. “You might look at it differently, but … they have to fit around me. That’s how I see it.”
It’s still unclear what combination head coach Steve Kerr will use in the starting lineup, but Edwards is certainly a player to watch as a breakout player.
The soon-to-be 23-year-old is coming off a season in which he was the No. 1 option for the No. 3 seed Timberwolves, who reached the Western Conference finals but lost in five games to the No. 5 seed Dallas Mavericks.
In 79 regular-season games, Edwards averaged career highs in points (25.9) and assists (5.1), while also adding 5.4 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 0.5 blocks on 46-for-36-for-84 shooting.
He was named to the All-Star team for the second consecutive year and was also named to the All-NBA Second Team.
Besides Curry, the U.S. national team also features guards Devin Booker of the Suns, Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers and Jrue Holiday of the Celtics, while James could also play as a point forward with additional ball-handling duties.
