Team USA News - MinnesotaSportsFan https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/tag/team-usa/ Minnesota sports, but different Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:19 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.3 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=32,height=32,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/cropped-cropped-MSF-favicon-1.jpg Team USA News - MinnesotaSportsFan https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/tag/team-usa/ 32 32 Team USA Trying to Ride Brock Faber to 4 Nations Title https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-wild/minnesota-wild-news/brock-faber-team-usa-4-nations/ Sun, 16 Feb 2025 16:32:15 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=60359 The Minnesota Wild are on a two week hiatus from the 2024-25 NHL schedule thanks to a one-off round robin international tournament dubbed the “4 Nations Face-Off”, which is taking place in Montreal and includes many of the best hockey players from USA, Canada, Finland and Sweden.

This new tourney has never been played before and will probably never happen again. Oh, and outside of national pride and competitive spirit… it means nothing. The 4 Nations Face-Off won’t qualify any of the teams for future Olympic or World Cup play and doesn’t count toward any type of international ranking.

The 4 Nations Tournament that “doesn’t matter”

But tell that to all of the NHL players who have spent the past week treating this tournament like the future prosperity of each country is at stake. On Saturday night, for example, Team USA — which was put together by Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin — played host Canada. As soon as the puck dropped, two NHL superstars (Matthew Tkachuk and Brandon Hagel) dropped gloves. Remember, this tournament “doesn’t matter”.

In 55 games this season, Brandon Hagel has already potted 26 goals and 36 assists (62 points), playing 21 minutes per night for the Tampa Bay Lightning. Tkachuk, the better-known name of the two assailants from Saturday night’s opening bell brawl, has piled up 22 goals and 35 assists (57 points).

Those aren’t the stat lines you expect to see between two dudes looking to play rock-em sock-em hockey stars instead of ice hockey. But apparently, the 4 Nations just hits different. Without a doubt, this tournament has set the bar for all international sporting events going forward.

USA hockey needs Brock Faber

Now, let’s talk about the hockey side of Saturday’s heavyweight matchup between the USA and Canada, which ended in a 3-1 American victory and secured the United States a spot in the championship game this week.

Prior to their win vs Canada, the USA trounced Finland 6-1. Minnesota Wild players Matt Boldy and Brock Faber both played a huge role in that win, including the game winning shot by Faber, which was deflected into the net by Boldy, giving the US a 2-1 lead they wouldn’t surrender.

But really, it’s the 22-year-old homegrown Wild defenseman who has proven himself irreplaceable in the USA lineup. Against Sweden, Faber played nearly 19 minutes, fourth most among American defensemen. He finished with the one assist and a +1 goal differential.

Related: MN Wild Top Pick Just Misses No. 1 Spot in NHL Prospect Rankings

Then, in a much tighter game Saturday vs Canada, Faber logged over 25 minutes of ice time, 2nd only to his defense partner, Jaccob Slavin (Carolina Hurricanes), who logged about 17 seconds more than Faber did.

Brock Faber essential to Minnesota Wild and Team USA

Both Faber and Slavin were on the ice for all three of America’s goals vs the Mounties. Neither was playing when Connor McDavid sliced through the USA defense for Canada’s only goal of the contest in the first period.

Without a doubt, Slavin and Faber have proven this week that they are two of the most important players in USA hockey. But here is the thing: Jaccob Slavin is 30 years old, Brock Faber is just 22. On the season, Faber has 6 goals and 16 assists (22 points) on 24:55 TOI per night.

The Minnesota Wild inked Brock Faber to an 8-year contract that will pay him $8.5 million per year. The new deal hasn’t even kicked in yet and it’s already looking like one of the best contracts in the National Hockey League.

]]> Sun, 16 Feb 2025 10:32:19 +0000 Minnesota Wild News Minnesota Wild Team USA Has to Fire Cheryl Reeve, Right? https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-lynx/minnesota-lynx-news/fire-cheryl-reeve-caitlin-clark-quotes-rumors-team-usa/ Mon, 15 Jul 2024 23:59:39 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=52938 The 2024 Paris Summer Olympics are right around the corner and this has to be the least hyped Olympics of my 35-year-old life. Even with the sports world sitting in offseason abyss purgatory, nobody is talking about Paris ’24.

You know what would have helped the Olympic hype train here in America, though? Caitlin Clark, the 22-year-old phenom Indiana Fever basketball player, who is single-handedly selling out NBA (not WNBA) stadiums days before she plays in them. Unfortunately, she wasn’t asked to be on the 2024 Team USA.

She’s not established enough, apparently. At least, that’s what the Team USA selection committee has claimed. Early on, the tried to argue that she wasn’t good enough yet. Of course, that argument that didn’t hold water long.

Clark has been mostly fantastic all WNBA season, so far. She is on pace to break just about every rookie record on the league’s books, and she’s only getting better with more experience.

Cheryl Reeve gets weird about Caitlin Clark (again)

Minnesota Lynx head coach and president of basketball operations, Cheryl Reeve, doubles as the head coach for Team USA. She does not appear to be a fan of Clark’s. One thing is for sure, she definitely does not like being asked about he. Cryptically tweeting about her on occasion? Now, that is different.

Prior to the Lynx playing the Fever on Sunday, and the PoBO got weird (again) when asked about Clark’s affect on the very large Target Center crowd, saying she doesn’t “give two shits” about the Fever having more fans than the Lynx. When asked if she gives one shit, Reeve doubled down. “Not even one shit”.

Alrighty then…

Reeve was also asked asked about Clark’s exclusion from Team USA. As noted above, she really doesn’t like questions about the 6’0″ former Hawkeye. Apparently, asking the head coach of Team USA about Team USA isn’t permitted when the Olympics are a week away, especially if it’s about “you know who”.

“Why the hell would I answer a national team question? I’m wearing Lynx. And I’m the head coach of the national team but I’m not the chair of the committee. Anybody want to venture into anything else?”

Cheryl Reeve (per ESPN)

Is Caitlin Clark good enough for Team USA? (Yes)

In 25 games this season, Clark is averaging 16.8 points, 7.8 assists and 5.8 rebounds, in 35 minutes per night. She’s 14th in the WNBA in points, 1st in assists, 9th in steals and 5th in minutes. She’s even top-15 in blocks and top-20 in rebounds.

Related: Lynx Head Coach Cheryl Reeve Mad at WNBA for Spotlighting Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever

Yes, her turnover numbers are super high (5.6 per game), but so is her usage. Indiana pretty much runs everything through her, at this point, just like Iowa did while she was in college. Caitlin is far and away the best player on the team, so it makes sense.

The young rookie phenom has played all of the hate off really well all season, and you can tell she is really starting to rub off on her teammates, who didn’t seem all that accepting of her early in the season. But it’s pretty clear she is starting to take all these unnecessary shots from Reeve personally.

Clark grew up a Lynx fan so she was asked if moving to No. 2 on the all-time WNBA rookie assists list at Minnesota meant more. She responded, “Not really… probably something I won’t remember. I don’t know, it’s cool…”.

Team USA needs to fire Cheryl Reeve

Look, Reeve’s hard-headedness and refusal to accept Caitlin Clark could have gone on for awhile and been forgiven. But after last night, there is not a world in which Clark and Reeve hold hands and sing Kumbaya on the FIBA or Olympic podium anytime in the near future.

If Cheryl thinks answering questions about Caitlin’s exclusion from Team USA is annoying now, wait until she gets in front of international reporters in Paris. There are going to be 10 questions about Clark, for every one question about anything else.

Related: Final Team USA Roster Proves Cheryl Reeve Hates Caitlin Clark More Than She Loves Women’s Basketball

Women’s basketball needs Clark WAAAAYYYYYY more than it needs Cheryl Reeve or the Minnesota Lynx. Maybe that’s why she is so upset. Either way, this ridiculous fued almost certainly ends in the 4-time WNBA champion no longer being head coach of Team USA, after these Olympics in Paris.

USA needs Caitlin Clark on its women’s basketball team and she needs to get along with the head coach of that team. Clearly, that isn’t going to be Cheryl Reeve.

]]> Mon, 15 Jul 2024 19:13:26 +0000 Minnesota Lynx News Minnesota Lynx Steve Kerr Loves Anthony Edwards’ Confidence, Hates His Off-Ball Defense https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-timberwolves/minnesota-timberwolves-news/mn-timberwolves-news-steve-kerr-anthony-edwards-team-usa-confidence-defense/ Wed, 10 Jul 2024 15:06:09 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=52786 USA Basketball has kicked off practices and training for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris, France. Among the superstar players on the roster is Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards. Golden State’s Steve Kerr is the head coach.

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.

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.

“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.

“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.

]]> Wed, 10 Jul 2024 10:17:49 +0000 Minnesota Timberwolves News Minnesota Timberwolves Anthony Edwards Says Other Team USA Stars Will Have to Play Around Him https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-timberwolves/anthony-edwards-knows-hes-the-best-player-on-team-usa/ Sun, 07 Jul 2024 22:26:13 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=52723 Anthony Edwards spent this past season ascending into one of the best players in the NBA. He helped the Minnesota Timberwolves have one of their most successful seasons of all time and made a strong case to take the baton from LeBron James as the next generation’s basketball icon.

But now it’s the offseason, and Ant’s already back in the lab, working on his skills. We’re not talking about making more Ant babies. Of course, nobody would be surprised if he’s been doing some work in that department too. This time, though, we’re talking basketball. And Edwards isn’t out here prepping for another Wolves season this time.

Nope, this week, Edwards is getting ready to help the USA Basketball team win Olympic gold in Paris later this summer. And in 2024, Team USA is stacked with the best of the best American basketball players available.

  • Guards: Anthony Edwards, Stephen Curry, Devin Booker, Tyrese Haliburton, Jrue Holiday
  • Forwards: LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Jayson Tatum
  • Centers: Joel Embiid, Anthony Davis, Bam Adebayo

Anthony Edwards says Team USA has to ‘fit around’ his game

Despite the superstar cast around him, Edwards made it clear today that confidence will not be an issue. The 22-year-old 1st time All-NBA guard told reporters Sunday that he is the best player on the 2024 Team USA roster. So just in case you were wondering, he is approaching this next week as if he will have a starring (not just starting) role later this month in Paris.

Edwards: “I’m still the number one option [on this team too]. Y’all might look at it differently, but I don’t look at it no differently.”

Reporter: ‘But how do you go about integrating yourself amongst so much talent?’

Edwards: “Hey, I just go out there and be myself, shoot my shots, play defense and, you know, they gotta fit in and play around me.”

How can you not love this kid’s confidence? He may not have nearly the same list of accomplishments or accolades as his peers, but he outranks anyone and everyone in that department. And Edwards should feel good about his game right now. He has a chance to prove he is one of the best players in the world and he is ready to take advantage of such an opportunity.

Never doubt the confidence of Minnesota Timberwolves superstar, Anthony Edwards

Now, said opportunity will not be easy to take advantage of. If he can prove to Kerr that he deserves a starting job, that’s only the first step. From there, Ant would have to lead Team USA through the most dangerous international field ever presented during Olympic competition. Top basketball talent is no longer restricted to America and it shows.

If Ant can learn even more about the team aspects of playing basketball, doing what it takes to win no matter what, his Olympic experience can be a very positive one. For Wolves fans, getting to see the franchise player take center stage while millions of spectators are tuning in will be a special moment too.

Related: Former Minnesota Gopher Named to Timberwolves Summer League Roster

Now, it’s just up to Ant to run away with the gold medal while putting on what’s expected to be a dazzling display. Does this sound like a player who plans on doing anything other than taking the world by storm?

]]> Sun, 07 Jul 2024 20:40:46 +0000 Minnesota Timberwolves Final Team USA Roster Proves Cheryl Reeve Hates Caitlin Clark More Than She Loves Women’s Basketball https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-lynx/minnesota-lynx-news/cheryl-reeve-team-usa-caitlin-clark/ Sat, 08 Jun 2024 22:51:59 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=51872 Caitlin Clark is possibly the biggest name in all of sports right now. It’s probably the first time in my 35 year history on this earth where I can remember a female athlete taking over the sports world to the degree she has.

Of course, female athletes have had their moments. But most of them have come from Olympic sports like gymnastics, figure skating, swimming and track. Women’s basketball had Maya Moore, Sheryl Swoopes and Lisa Leslie, names that lifted the female game to new heights during their time.

Caitlin Clark has star power that women’s sports has never seen before

Locally, we saw that with Lindsay Whalen, especially while she was leading the University of Minnesota to a Final Four back in 2004. But never, ever, has women’s sports seen an athlete that raises an entire sport… hell, an entire gender of athletes like Caitlin Clark has.

There is no way to calculate how many little girls around the world will now try basketball because of Clark. Many of which will fall in love with the game, but only because they first fell in love with her. Caitlin Clark is pretty much the Taylor Swift of the women’s basketball world.

For example, the 0-12 Washington Mystics had to move their game vs Clark’s Indiana Fever this week from a 4,000 seat arena to a 20,000 seat arena, to help fill demand for tickets. The extra 16,000 seats sold out in 30 minutes.

How did Clark payoff the 20,000 people in attendance (a 17-year WNBA record) who were all there to see her? Oh, she put up 30 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and 4 steals. The Fever won 85-83.

Related: Paige Bueckers Chose UConn Over Being MN’s Caitlin Clark
 But Don’t Tell That to the Internet

But the real winners were the Mystics, Capital One Arena and the WNBA, for hosting possibly the largest organic revenue generating regular season game in league history. It’s the type of thing that doesn’t happen in any sport for any player. Men, women… it doesn’t matter. That sort of fanfare is unheard of.

But this sort of thing isn’t even surprising anymore. Whenever Caitlin Clark is involved, history is going to be made and an unhinged amount of interest is going to be generated. And when there is unhinged amounts of interest being generated, the dollar signs follow, and that is undoubtedly the case with Clark.

Cheryl Reeve leaves Caitlin Clark off Team USA roster

So what was much more surprising than Clark setting another attendance record, was when news started breaking that she was going to be left of the 2024 Team USA women’s basketball Olympic roster, which became official on Saturday.

That’s right, women’s basketball, whose leaders have consistently begged, scolded and downright guilted sports fans into thinking they didn’t care enough. Those same people who demand that NBA owners invest more money into the WNBA, who expect TV networks to put their games in primetime even though nobody watches…

Those same people are now choosing an Olympic backseat to just about every other sport on the 2024 Paris roster. They had a chance to lead Olympic coverage in this country and exponentially grow the game they claim to love so much, at an international level.

They could have had the cameras and paparazzi. The massive crowds of fans and media members crowding their team bus every time it stopped somewhere. They could have had the lines of little girls begging for autographs and crying as they walked by. Instead, they made the conscious decision to be mostly non-existent while in France later this summer.

Why? Jealousy, envy, bias… take your pick. While the WNBA should be welcoming Caitlin Clark into their league with open arms, they have turned a cold shoulder to their first real superstar. Barstool founder, Dave Portnoy, pretty much nailed it on Saturday, after hearing the news (transcript below).

“These women, and I love women, I’m a pro woman guy, [but] they complain and they cry about equal rights, equal wages, blah blah blah blah. Hey dummies, for the first time in the history of basketball, you have arguably a player who is the most popular player in the world. You could argue, right now, Caitlin Clark is the most talked about, discussed, most popular, most puts asses in the seats, single basketball player in the world. You could argue that.”

“And you leave her off the Olympics team? It’s not only a showcase for her, it’s for the sport and the other WNBA players who are on this team. How dumb, how brain dead, how idiotic do the people running this thing have to be? It’s one thing after another with her. The business part of my brain is like… These people, whoever it is, I don’t ever want to hear you complain about flying commercial or not getting salaries or this that. You’re too dumb, you’re too dumb, you have a cash cow.”

“Women’s basketball would be like the number one thing people watch [during the Olympics], with Caitlin Clark. As it is, I would rather watch grass grow, I’d rather watch paint dry, I’d rather watch dirt just be moved around. If she’s there, it’s appointment TV. You people, whoever did this, take your brain, put it in a museum and study it for how dumb you are.”

Dave Portnoy on Caitlin Clark being left off the Team USA women’s basketball roster

Current players are targeting Clark during games and in press conferences. Former players are talking down to those who bring her up, as the next great in women’s basketball. Oh, and opposing coaches might be the worst of all. For whatever reason, it seems most of the WNBA sees Clark as a threat instead of the ticket, which makes no sense.

And leading that anti-Clark cause is Minnesota Lynx president of basketball operations and head coach, Cheryl Reeve, who moonlights as Team USA head coach and their main talent evaluator. Here’s what she tweeted during the WNBA preseason, after the league social media account dare spotlight Clark’s game instead of the Lynx.

Read More: Lynx Head Coach Cheryl Reeve Mad at WNBA for Spotlighting Caitlin Clark, Indiana Fever

Not convinced? Take the above tweet however you want. Reeve has made it very clear how she feels about the Caitlin Clark craze more than once.

The most laughable part about this is that Reeve has been one of the lead drum beaters and guilt trippers, calling for more attention to be paid to women’s basketball (see the bottom of this article). No matter the cost.

Now, here is an opportunity to grow the women’s game at a level the sport has never seen before. More money, more popularity, it’s literally sitting there, one common sense decision away. And what does Reeve do? SHE says no, instead choosing personal vendettas over growing the game she claims to love so much. It’s hypocrisy at the highest level.

Reeve won’t be the only one who takes blame for leaving Clark off Team USA. She is aided by an Olympic committee that is made up of those who have competed against Clark. No Hawkeye or Fever coaches are included on the Team USA Olympic committee or staff.

South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley, whose team beat Iowa in the National Championship this season, along with former Lynx star (now LSU assistant) Seimone Augustus and Connecticut Sun president Jennifer Rizzotti are among those with the most pull. But Cheryl Reeve, as head coach and a WNBA President of Basketball Operations, has final say.

Now, you can listen to what some WNBA writers are echoing, which are the excuses that Reeve and Team USA officials are making. They’re saying that Clark isn’t good enough to be on the 2024 Team USA roster, that she has to wait her turn. Or, my personal favorite, that she wouldn’t get enough playing time to make her rabid fanbase happy…

But all of that is nonsense. There is no logical reason not to have Clark on that roster. Team USA women haven’t lost an Olympic game since 1992. They are 70-3 in their history and haven’t lost a FIBA World Cup matchup since 2006. They pretty much never lose and beat most teams by 50 points.

International women’s basketball is still closer to what it was like in the 1990s for men’s basketball, back when The Dream Team faced other countries who were just starting to find their footing in the basketball world.

Related: Psst
 Caitlin Clark is a Closet Minnesota Lynx Fan

So if you think keeping Caitlin Clark, one of the greatest young players in league history, off the roster may have been the difference between winning and losing for the US this summer, then you are kidding yourself.

This happened because the people leading the team and women’s basketball in the year 2024 — especially Minnesota Lynx and Team USA head decision maker, Cheryl Reeve — are giving into their own jealousy, envy and bias, instead of leaning into growth and business. Dumb.

So where is this energy at, Cheryl? Funny, we don’t see a lot of these tweets anymore for some reason…

]]> Sun, 09 Jun 2024 08:25:54 +0000 Minnesota Lynx News Minnesota Lynx Anthony Edwards Selected to Stacked USA Olympics Team and He Wants to Start https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-timberwolves/2024-timberwolves-anthony-edwards-chosen-2024-team-usa-olympics/ Tue, 16 Apr 2024 02:12:44 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=49870 Anthony Edwards recently wrapped up his best season yet, one that pushed him into and around NBA MVP conversations and helped propel the Minnesota Timberwolves to their second-best record in franchise history.

His efforts not only helped secured the team’s spot in the Western Conference playoffs but he was the driving force in landing the the West’s 3-seed, the second highest in franchise history.

Minnesota Timberwolves superstar Anthony Edwards selected to stacked USA olympic roster

To add to an already incredible year, news broke Monday evening that Edwards is one of the 11 members of Team USA who are being finalized for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris tonight. It’s a huge deal for Ant and a chance to show on a global stage that he belongs alongside (if not in front of) the best basketball players in the world.

Those who are joining Edwards on Team USA include LeBron James, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid, Jayson Tatum, Devin Booker and Anthony Davis, making up undoubtedly one of the most stacked American Olympic rosters since The Dream Team.

It’s an incredible opportunity for Edwards to learn from and play alongside some of the greatest players of all time, and fans can’t wait to see what this powerhouse team achieves on the Olympic stage.

Anthony Edwards is gearing up for another stint representing the USA, this time at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. Last summer, he led the 2023 USA FIBA World Cup team, where he quickly became the alpha dog for an underwhelming roster that managed a disappointing fourth place finish.

Related: Timberwolves Open NBA Playoffs as 3-Seed Underdogs vs Nightmare Matchup Suns

On that team, he shared the court with Tyrese Haliburton, Paolo Banchero, Mikel Bridges and Jalen Brunson, all formidable players in their own right. But that team doesn’t belong in the same sentence, let alone on the same floor as the one he will play with in Paris.

Ant wants to start for Team USA in Paris

Don’t expect Ant to be satisfied with making the Olympic roster, though. Last month, Shams reported that Edwards indeed has his eyes set on a starting spot for Team USA, no matter how stacked the roster ends up being.

It’s tough to say if Anthony Edwards will be able to secure a starting spot on such a stacked roster. If we assume LeBron, Steph, Durant and Embiid are four of the five starters, that means Ant will have to beat out Jayson Tatum and Devin Booker.

But then again, this is Anthony Edwards we’re talking about. Never doubt Ant, when he puts his mind to something. If he wants to show Steve Kerr he deserves a starting role, beating Booker’s Suns and advancing to the 2nd round of the NBA Playoffs would be a good place to start.

Related: NBA Legend Jerry West Gushes Over Timberwolves; Loves Them in Playoffs

The 2024 Olympics are slated to kick off on July 26th and wrap up on August 11th. This means Edwards will have a solid window to reset and prepare for his Olympic journey before diving back into the NBA action for the 2024-25 season.

]]> Mon, 15 Apr 2024 21:12:48 +0000 Minnesota Timberwolves Anthony Edwards on Track to Make Team USA Olympic Roster https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-timberwolves/anthony-edwards-on-track-to-make-team-usa-olympic-roster/ Thu, 29 Feb 2024 03:53:56 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=48342 Anthony Edwards is doing his best to lead the Minnesota Timberwolves to the No. 1 overall seed in the NBA Western Conference but he’s also trying to earn a spot on the 2024 Team USA Olympic roster in Paris.

If he can make the cut, Ant would join a star-studded American cast determined to squash talk around international basketball community that Team USA may no longer be the once-dominant force that “Dream Teams” of years past built them into.

Anthony Edwards appears poised to make star-studded Team USA Olympic roster

anthony edwards lebron james team usa
Mar 31, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (1) and Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (6) hug after the game at Target Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

The likes of Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Joel Embiid, and Jayson Tatum are anticipated to lead the superteam representing Team USA. As per Shams Charania of The Athletic, Tyrese Halliburton, who partnered with Edwards last summer, is also under consideration as a possible addition to the team this summer.

In addition to the seven bona fide heavyweights listed above, budding superstars Anthony Edwards and Tyrese Haliburton, two members of the USA’s 2023 World Cup team, are under strong consideration for the Paris Games, those same sources said.

Shams Charania – The Athletic

No players have been confirmed yet, but all of the players listed above have publicly committed to playing if they get picked. Veterans like Kevin Durant and LeBron James have publicly expressed their desire to join the team and clearly see this as their last run in the Olympics before they pass the torch to Anthony Edwards and the other blossoming stars across the league.

Related: Charles Barkley Would Give Anthony Edwards the Twin Cities and All Three MN Lakes
?

Former Piston great, Grant Hill, works as Team USA’s general manager and Sean Ford is his right-hand man. Just like at the World Cup, Steve Kerr will coach the team. It would be incredibly exciting to witness Anthony Edwards competing in the Olympics alongside superstars like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Steph Curry as they pursue a gold medal for Team USA.

Watching Anthony Edwards sport the red, white, and blue with the “USA” stitched across his chest last summer was special. Will we see it again in the summer games? We’ll soon find out.. (but it sounds like the answer is yes).

]]> Wed, 28 Feb 2024 21:54:00 +0000 Minnesota Timberwolves Team USA Alpha Anthony Edwards Doesn’t Feel Pressure; Wants Kevin Durant’s Scoring Record https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-timberwolves/team-usa-alpha-anthony-edwards-doesnt-feel-pressure/ Wed, 30 Aug 2023 17:13:44 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=43202 Team USA finished 3-0 in group play of the FIBA World Cup, early Wednesday morning, after dominating an inferior Jordan team, 110-62, in the finale. Anthony Edwards shined again, scoring a team-high 22 points, while also grabbing 8 rebounds and divvying out 4 assists. Oh, and he sat the final 1.5 quarters.

Alpha Ant is here

Every day that Team USA spends on the other side of the Pacific Ocean, Edwards establishes himself deeper as the leader and alpha of the squad. And there’s no sign that will change. At the postgame press conference, following their win this morning, Ant sat down next to head coach Steve Kerr and showed his off-court it-factor.

Assembled media ooh’d, awe’d and laughed; entranced with the 22-year-old budding superstar, while he expressed a nonchalant confidence about beating whoever Team USA matches up against during bracket play and as he explained why he doesn’t feel “pressure” playing basketball.

“I mean… I think we’re gonna win. We’re unbeaten also. So yeah, I think we got a great chance to win. We’ve got a great coaching staff, we’ve got great players. Our confidence is at an all-time high. We’re not really worried about those guys.”

“Pressure? Ah… nah, not at all. I love the game of basketball. It’s fun for me, man. I go out there and do what I love. I put in the work everyday. So no, it’s no pressure at all.”

When asked if anyone on the team can top Kevin Durant’s Team USA single-game scoring record of 38 points (9/11/2010), Edwards didn’t make any guarantees. But he made it clear he’s going to try.

“You mean beating KD’s record? Man, he’s probably one of the greatest players (ever), so it’s gonna be tough. But I’m gonna try. Yeah, for sure. I’m gonna try (laughs)”

What’s next for Anthony Edwards?

Minnesota Timberwolves fans, who have watched Anthony Edwards grow into the alpha he’s now proving to be over the last few years, are no surprised to see the rest of the basketball world falling in love with him as the leader of Team USA. Ant is the total package, both on and off the court.

Now, he has to finish his international mission by leading the USA to a FIBA World Cup gold medal. Then, carry his new alpha dog mentality into training camp with the Wolves, which will begin shortly after the World Cup championship game ends.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

]]> Wed, 30 Aug 2023 12:13:48 +0000 Minnesota Timberwolves Anthony Edwards Tells ‘Losers’ to ‘Beat It’; Clarifies What He Did/Didn’t Say to Steve Kerr https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/minnesota-timberwolves/anthony-edwards-tells-losers-to-beat-it-steve-kerr-team-usa/ Thu, 24 Aug 2023 19:27:35 +0000 https://www.minnesotasportsfan.com/?p=43165 Anthony Edwards enters the FIBA World Cup as the face and leader of Team USA, a tournament that could launch his career into superstardom. But when the team first came together to start practicing and scrimmaging in preparation for this weekend, that wasn’t the case.

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.

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.

“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

]]> Thu, 24 Aug 2023 14:27:42 +0000 Minnesota Timberwolves