Anthony Edwards may have just proven his status as Team USA's best player
By Will Eudy
Team USA moved to 3-0 at the France Olympics on Saturday following a 104-83 win over Puerto Rico in group play. During the victory, Minnesota Timberwolves fans watched as Anthony Edwards took over the game and asserted himself as the most dominant force on the court.
Ant put up arguably his best Olympic performance yet as the USA now heads to knockout play. He scored the most points of any player between the two teams, finishing with 26 while knocking down 11 of his 16 shot attempts. Edwards made three of six shots from three-point range and logged three assists and two steals as well.
At the start of the fourth quarter with Team USA up by 25 points, Ant picked off a lazy pass from a Puerto Rican player and took it coast-to-coast for an emphatic windmill slam. The dunk brought the Paris crowd off its feet.
Anthony Edwards dominated against Puerto Rico
Throughout the contest, Edwards was imposing his will on his opponents and putting his fingerprints all over the game. Even when he was on the bench, Ant was fired up, shouting and encouraging his teammates, and sometimes even taunting the opposition.
It was a classic performance from the Timberwolves' franchise player, and it was yet another reminder of how important Edwards is to this United States team. All summer, we have heard him talking about how he is the best player on the Olympic team, and showing his typical confident persona.
But as much as people may have mocked him for this before, those same people are likely having a change of heart now. Ant being the best player on this team does not feel like nearly as big of a reach as it did a month ago, and his latest performance was another example of how massive he has been for Team USA.