Anthony Edwards gives surprising answer on playing with Team USA in the future

Minnesota Timberwolves fans were thrilled to see the kind of performance Anthony Edwards put up for the United States at the Olympics over the last six weeks. The first-time Olympian took charge from day one with his vibrant personality, injecting his confidence into even the most senior and veteran players on Team USA's roster.

On his way to a gold medal, Ant put up 12.8 points per game while shooting 58% from the floor. His contributions may seem secondary to the play of guys like Stephen Curry, but he was absolutely paramount to the United States earning their fifth consecutive gold at the Olympic stage.

His unforgettable campaign led many in Minnesota and all across the US wondering when we would get to see Edwards do his thing on an international stage once again. As of right now, the next chance he would have to participate would be at the FIBA World Cup in 2027, an event he of course already took part in during the summer of 2023. But when asked about whether he would be playing, Ant's answer was a bit surprising.

"What I did last year? Nah," he said. "But Olympics for sure."

Ant won't play at the World Cup in 2027, intends to return to Olympics

This answer surprised me and will likely surprise many due to how positively Edwards has talked about his experiences at the World Cup last year. In many ways, he hinted at the international competition being the springboard for him having such a stellar season with the Timberwolves in 2023-24.

But at the same time, Ant's position is understandable. Playing a full 82-game NBA season plus playoffs is probably enough wear and tear on anybody's body. Throw in an extra month or two of training and competition at a high stakes international competition in the summer, and it is likely enough to completely exhaust even the highest-level athletes.

After two consecutive summers of representing the United States on the world stage, it is completely normal to desire some time off. Timberwolves fans can look forward to seeing Edwards at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, and perhaps he will end up changing his mind about the World Cup in three more years' time.