Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards has turned down the opportunity to represent Team USA in their next major tournament. The 22-year-old was recently part of the United States men’s basketball squad that competed at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris. The Americans won all six games of the tournament en route to the gold medal. They defeated hosts France 98-87 in the final last Saturday at the Accor Arena in Paris.
Anthony Edwards Refuses To Join Team USA In Next Tournament
FIBA Basketball World Cup Takes Place In 2027
Edwards captured his first Olympic gold medal in his second consecutive summer playing for Team USA. He previously suited up for the country at the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup in the Philippines. Unfortunately for them, the Americans failed to secure a podium finish. Team USA finished fourth overall in the tournament after losing the bronze medal game, 127-118 in overtime to Canada.
Before the tournament, head coach Steve Kerr named the former first overall pick “the guy” for that team, which included young, up-and-coming players as well as role and bench players in the NBA. This contrasts with the usual star power that the American squad typically brings to the Olympics.
The 6-foot-4 shooting guard was asked by Joe Vardon of The Athletic about his interest in playing in the next edition of the FIBA World Cup, and he provided a definitive and firm answer.
“Hell nah.”
With his decision, Edwards is unlikely to complete the list of achievements possible for a Team USA player, as the FIBA World Cup and the Summer Olympics are the two major tournaments in international basketball.
The 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup will take place in Qatar from August 27 to September 12, 2027. The United States has failed to win the last two editions of the tournament. They finished seventh in the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China, where Gregg Popovich coached them. Team USA last won the competition in 2014 when Spain hosted it.
Edwards Talks About 2024 Paris Olympics Run
Edwards felt elated to join the Team USA squad at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The two-time NBA All-Star appeared in all six of their games in the tournament. His most memorable performance of the Olympics came against Puerto Rico in the final game of the group stage. The 2023-24 All-NBA Second Team member scored 26 points on an efficient 11-of-15 shooting from the field. Edwards also spent a lot of time with his all-time favorite player and now Team USA teammate, Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant.
“I can’t speak on that. I can only speak on what I got around my neck right now… This was the most fun I ever had playing basketball.”
The Atlanta native averaged 12.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 1.3 steals in 16.3 minutes per game in Paris, providing a valuable spark off the bench. He is widely expected to assume a leadership role for Team USA in the next edition of the Summer Olympics, which is set to be held in 2028 in Los Angeles.
The former Georgia Bulldogs standout led the Timberwolves to a Western Conference Finals appearance in the 2023-24 NBA season. Minnesota ended the regular season with the third-best record in the highly competitive Western Conference at 56-26.
