Last summer, Anthony Edwards represented Kerr’s Team USA at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup, where the Wolves’ superstar was the No. 1 option on a young squad that finished in a disappointing 4th place. This summer, however, is different.

Anthony Edwards is playing for a completely different Team USA this summer

Olympic medals are on the line. USA basketball legacy is on the line. Only two players from last year’s FIBA team, Ant and Tyrese Halliburton, are on the Paris roster. Instead of Brandon Ingram, Mikal Bridges, and Jalen Brunson, he is surrounded by a dozen future hall of famers, including LeBron James, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and Joel Embiid and Anthony Davis.

Your 2024 🇺🇸 #USABMNT 🫡 pic.twitter.com/XtPtZIF2Zg

— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 9, 2024

So what does that mean for Anthony Edwards? If you know anything about Ant, you already know how he feels. Edwards still believes he should be the team’s number one option, but he’s also well aware of the all-time greatness he is surrounded by.

Sounds like Edwards will play plenty in Paris

And what did four-time champion head coach Steve Kerr have to say about Ant’s quote that went viral the other day? He coached Edwards last summer and, by now, the league is well aware of how gifted he is and the quotes he might bring when a microphone is brought to his face. So… let’s just say Kerr wasn’t surprised.

Related: Former Minnesota Gopher Named to Timberwolves Summer League Roster

The subtle quote by Kerr that won’t get enough attention, though, is his mention that Anthony Edwards is one of about six or seven guys on Team USA who SHOULD feel like they are the go-to star, which says a lot about how much Kerr will rely on him in the Olympics.

Steve Kerr on Anthony Edwards’ comments that he’s the No. 1 option on this #USABMNT squad: “I love that [he] said that… I want him to think that way, and I want five, six other guys to feel that way too. That’s the beauty of being on this team…” pic.twitter.com/31EfoJ0h6a

— Mason Williams (@mvsonwilliams) July 9, 2024

“I love that Anthony Edwards said that he is the number one option. I want him to think that way. And I want five, six other guys to feel that way too. That’s the beauty of being on this team. These guys, they’re all capable of taking over a game. And I think, as they go, they realize that mentality, that aggressiveness is actually a good thing. Because they are all committed to each other. They don’t want to disappoint one another. They want to make sure that they’re bringing their best energy, best game to the floor every night for their teammates.”

No doubt Edwards will play, and it sounds like he is in the mix for a starting spot, especially with Kevin Durant nursing an injury. But his ticket to more playing time is more defense. He knows that and his Team USA head coach does too.

Kerr wants more out of Minnesota Timberwolves star defensively

But Kerr was specific, regarding Ant’s defensive abilities. He talked about how incredible Edwards was when guarding shooters with the ball. But the USA head coach also noted that Ant was essentially horrible off the ball. He even suggests that Edwards needs to box out better too.

More Kerr on Edwards (2/2): "His on-ball defense last summer was amazing, and it helped change our team and get us better. Frankly, his off-ball defense struggled or suffered, and he needs to get better chasing shooters, staying connected, boxing out."

— Chris Hine (@ChristopherHine) July 9, 2024

“If he wants to play, he better play defense. That’s the point. The whole point of FIBA is to defend, make stops and get out and run.”

“His on-ball defense last summer was amazing, and it helped change our team and get us better. Frankly, his off-ball defense struggled or suffered, and he needs to get better chasing shooters, staying connected, boxing out.”

Steve Kerr on Anthony Edwards’ defense (via Chris Hine)

If Anthony Edwards can improve on his rebounding and off-ball defense, there is no doubt he will see the floor a lot for Team USA. And if Ant is on the floor, the buckets will come. During last year’s FIBA tournament, he led Team USA in scoring, rebounds, minutes and shot attempts.

• Edwards 2023 FIBA Tournament: 18.9 PPG, 4.6 REB, 2.8 AST, 25.5 MPG

Timberwolves fans have reason to be thrilled as Anthony Edwards joins basketball legends on the Olympic stage. Beyond this exciting opportunity, they should also anticipate Edwards’ ongoing growth under a strong coaching staff, paving the way for him to evolve into one of the best basketball talents in the world.

Steve Kerr sends wake up call to Anthony Edwards during 2020 pre-draft workout

But no matter where he was picked, Edwards got a wake-up call when he arrived in San Francisco for a pre-draft workout with the Golden State Warriors and their head coach, Steve Kerr. The Warriors were slotted into the 2nd pick in the 2020 draft.

During their workout, Kerr made it very clear to Ant that he was not in the shape he needed to be, if he was going to make it in the NBA. That, if he wanted to hang at this level, he was going to have to work a lot harder than what he was.

Anthony Edwards talks about how Steve Kerr and the Warriors have shaped his work ethic. pic.twitter.com/uZbB1XHaOB

— ProCity Hoops (@ProCityHoops) September 29, 2023

“I thought I was working hard. When he came, I was going through drills and he kept stopping them, like, ‘That’s all you got? That’s all you got?’ And I’m like, ‘Bruh, I’m going hard as you want me to go. What you want me to do? I’m sweating crazy.'”

Anthony Edwards (via ESPN)

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After the workout, Edwards went to dinner with the Warriors head coach, along with other top brass in the organization. Kerr told him point-blank that if their team had the #1 overall pick, they wouldn’t be picking him, which left Ant shell-shocked.

“He’s like, ‘Man, you’ve got to see Steph [Curry], KD and Klay [Thompson] work out. They still was continuously telling me, ‘You didn’t work hard enough. If we had the No. 1 pick, we wouldn’t take you.’ And I was just like, ‘Damn, that’s crazy.'”

Anthony Edwards (via ESPN)

Anthony Edwards used Kerr’s criticism to improve

But that’s one of my favorite personality traits of Anthony Edwards. When met with a challenge or criticism, Ant has shown an incredible willingness, even when caught off-guard, to look inward.

Edwards has been the biggest talent of his age group since he put on basketball sneakers. He was the #1 overall recruit in the nation (247Sports) coming out of high school in 2019 and the #1 overall pick in the NBA Draft one year later.

Related: Patrick Beverley Believes Anthony Edwards’ Star Will Get Too Big For Minnesota

Yet, when Kerr questioned his work ethic and commitment to basketball, Edwards didn’t shut down or let it roll off his back, like many many many great young athletes would. Instead, he got into the car with his trainer, after meeting with the Warriors, and made a commitment to working harder.

“Me and my trainer riding home after dinner and we’re just talking like we got to pick it up. I don’t know how, I don’t know what we got to do, but we got to pick it up. After that. I became a madman at the gym.”

Anthony Edwards (via ESPN)

Edwards proves Kerr wrong again before FIBA World Cup…

Three years later and Anthony Edwards is one of the brightest stars in the NBA. The Warriors pick that year at #2 overall, James Wiseman, spent most of his first two seasons dealing with injuries, before Golden State traded him to the Detroit Pistons.

Kerr linked up with Edwards this summer, as the head coach for Team USA’s unsuccessful run during the FIBA World Cup. Again, Kerr doubted the now-budding superstar, choosing to bring him off the bench when Team USA first convened for a quick training camp, prior to exhibition games starting.

That didn’t last long. By the second or third practice, Ant was in the starting lineup. When the FIBA World Cup started, he was the team alpha and far-and-away their best player.

Anthony Edwards is taking that leap ladies and gentlemen. 35 points for team USA last game so let’s take a look at the highlights.

A reminder that Edwards was only 3 points away from Kevin Durants 38 point record for the most points scored for Team USA and Ant just turned 22. pic.twitter.com/YqT4Hyt7EH

— The Daily Wolves (@TheDailyWolves) September 4, 2023

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

Anthony Edwards wasn’t in Team USA’s starting lineup right away

In fact, according to The Athletic, Ant wasn’t even in the starting lineup when Steve Kerr first divvied out roles for Team USA, at the start of training camp on August 3. Apparently, half of the team’s coaching staff didn’t think the former #1 overall pick was worthy of a starting job.

When training camp started in Las Vegas on Aug. 3, the coaching staff was in agreement that Brunson, Bridges, Ingram and Jaren Jackson Jr. should start. But when Team USA played its first scrimmage, it was Johnson, and not Edwards, out there with the starting five.

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The room was split on Edwards, and it isn’t clear as to exactly why. At least some of the decision makers were confident Edwards would emerge as one of USA’s dominant players, looking at Edwards’ body of work in the Timberwolves’ spirited, five-game playoff loss to the Denver Nuggets in which he averaged nearly 32 points.

Joe Vardon – The Athletic

Edwards didn’t want to come off the bench

So, as the story goes, Kerr sat Ant down before Team USA’s first scrimmage for a conversation about coming off the bench. He pointed to Dwayne Wade coming off the bench for the 2008 Olympic “Redeem Team” that featured LeBron James and Kobe Bryant in the starting lineup.

Wade led Team USA in points per game (16). He was used as the main source of offense for the 2nd team and he was on the floor late in closer, more meaningful games. But Ant isn’t stupid. The 2023 FIBA version of Team USA doesn’t have a Kobe, which is what he told The Athletic, when asked about his role when he initially arrived in Las Vegas.

On Thursday, Edwards said Kerr had called him before the start of camp and “he was telling me about coming off the bench.

“I mean, of course I wasn’t cool with it,” Edwards said. “If that’s what it takes, I mean, I am willing to do it, but nah, I’m never cool with that. … He said Dwyane Wade came off the bench when Kobe played. I was like, all right, we don’t have a Kobe, but all right. But it was cool.”

Anthony Edwards (via The Athletic)

This story from The Athletic dropped on Thursday morning. Before noon hit in the central time zone, Bleacher Report aggregated it with the headline, Anthony Edwards: ‘Wasn’t Cool with’ Steve Kerr’s Plan to Bring Me off Team USA Bench.

Ant sets record straight on what he told Steve Kerr

In response, Edwards took to his Instagram story to set the record straight. He called the headline chasers from Bleacher Report “losers” and told them to “beat it”, noting that his quotes in The Athletic were only his thoughts, after being told by Kerr that he would come off the bench, not what he actually said to his Team USA head coach in the moment.

Anthony edwards Responds To bleacher report post about him being benched:

“I ain’t even say that to Steve man, that’s my dog we speak everyday….y’all some loser man, beat it”pic.twitter.com/NsKtQwUAZF https://t.co/DNzweMzqex

— Jaden McDaniels GOAT (@JadenMcDanielsF) August 24, 2023

“Y’all losers beat it, man. Y’all taking that little comment too far. I didn’t even say that to Steve Kerr. I was only thinking that when he told me I was coming off the bench. Y’all doing too much, y’all going to far. That’s my dawg. Me and Steve Kerr locked in. Know what I’m sayin? We talk everyday. I hate y’all. Y’all always doing that, bruh. Damn bruh… it’s just an interview… Go on about your business, bruh. Ya’ll some losers man, beat it.”

Anthony Edwards (via Instagram story above)

By the time Team USA played their first exhibition game, just four days later vs Puerto Rico, Edwards was in the starting lineup and scored a team-high 15 points and he hasn’t looked back. There’s no longer any doubt about whether or not Ant is a starter or one of the best players in the World Cup this summer.

I like that Edwards is willing to punch back clearly and defiantly in moments like this. He’s a great player and an awesome teammate. Thus, I can’t blame him for taking offense to how his quotes were twisted. Ant is as real as it gets and I appreciate that about him.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan