By Aris Barkas/ barkas@eurohoops.net
LILLE, France – Winning the gold medal is one of Anthony Edwards’ goals in the Olympic Games.
The other? Posterizing, at least, someone
“I’ve been waiting. Yeah, I’ve been waiting. I’ve been waiting,” Edwards said when he was told that he looked to be champing at a bit for a great dunk. “I wanted to dunk on somebody, but I got a man here, so I’m glad I got that one.”
Edwards had an impressive windmill dunk in transition early in the fourth quarter of the win over Puerto Rico. But what he’s looking forward to is that poster.
“Hopefully I’ll catch somebody in the next three games,” Edwards said.
Edwards finished with 26 points on 11-15 shots. It was the top performance for the Minnesota Timberwolves star in the Olympic tournament so far.
” It feels good,” Edwards said. “It’s going to be different every night. Tonight was my night. The first night was KD [Kevin Durant]. The second was Bam [Adebayo]. So, I mean, it’s not about getting mine. It’s just the ball was finding me. It was swing, swing. I was doing, you know, a recipient for all those swings, swings, and I was able to knock it down.”
Speaking of Durant, Edwards once again emphasized how much he enjoys being a teammate of both KD and LeBron James.
“I’ve ever dreamed of, hell yeah,” Edwards said. “He’s [Durant] the best part. He and Bron, they’re the best two people. I mean, team players, they always want to see the person next to them shine. I’m the same way, so it’s perfect. It’s perfect.”
After finishing the Group Stage with a 3-0 record, USA now will be preparing for the quarterfinal phase that leads to the medals.
” It’s the knockout rounds,” Edwards said. “All the teams that are in it are really good teams. They have NBA players, and they compete at a high level, so it’s supposed to be hard.”
Photo: FIBA Basketball