USA Basketball guard Anthony Edwards is having more fun than anyone at the Olympics

USA Basketball guard Anthony Edwards dunks during the game against Puerto Rico on Aug. 3 at the Stade Pierre Mauroy in Paris.

Andscape at the Olympics is an ongoing series exploring the Black athletes and culture around the 2024 Paris Games.

VILLENEUVE-D’ASCQ, France – The 1996 song “Freed from Desire” by Italian singer Gala was easily the most popular sing-a-long song for fans during the Olympic men’s basketball preliminary stage that ended Saturday. The Eurodance tune has long been popular for futbol fans all over Europe. And as the chorus of, “Na-na-na-na-na-na-na, na-na-na, na-na-na,” was sung by the 27,244 fans at Pierre Mauroy Stadium at the end of a timeout, USA Basketball guard Anthony Edwards gyrated in enjoyment before passing the ball in to resume play.

“My brother put me on to that [song] two nights ago,” a smiling Edwards said after a 104-83 victory over Puerto Rico. “We were in the club. He put me on to that song. I like it.”

Of all the USA Basketball players, none may be enjoying their Olympics experience on and off the court more than Edwards, the first-time Olympian.

The Atlanta native has been enjoying the European vibe in France, including, as he mentioned, hanging out in a night club in Paris. The Minnesota Timberwolves star has bonded with the USA female tennis table team after playfully talking trash with them on the boat during Aug. 26’s opening ceremony. He is getting to play with his childhood idol Kevin Durant. And during USA’s 104-83 victory over Puerto Rico, he enjoyed his best Olympic performance so far with 26 points on 11-of-15 shooting, three made 3-pointers and a long-awaited windmill dunk.

“Anthony can score any time in any situation,” USA head coach Steve Kerr said. “That is the benefit of a guy like that. In a tight situation where you need a shot, he can get one.”

The Team USA bench celebrates during the game against Puerto Rico on Aug. 3 at the Stade Pierre Mauroy in Paris. Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images

Edwards and Team USA enter the men’s quarterfinals on Tuesday night in Paris as a top seed. The Americans will host the brawny Brazilians, and a triumph draws a semifinals appearance against the Australia-Serbia winner. France, Canada, Germany and Greece are on the other side of the bracket. Undefeated USA has played solid basketball, but Edwards believes there is a higher level.

“It’s the knockout rounds, all the teams that are really good teams,” Edwards said. “They got NBA players. They compete at a high level. They’re supposed to be hard.”

“I feel like we are playing good,” he continued. “I got to clean up the sloppy turnovers. My bad. Pass the ball a little more. Defend a little better. But we will be all right.”

After Edwards’ joyous postgame interview, he smiled as he noticed Durant was taking questions nearby. Edwards belted out the words, “Kevin Durant,” before passing the two-time NBA Finals Most Valuable Player. Edwards said he has truly enjoyed the time he has been spending with Durant and USA forward LeBron James, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer.

For USA Basketball’s youngest player, the 22-year-old Edwards is squeezing knowledge daily from the veterans on the team. Durant even helped him with his shooting stroke during a recent practice in Paris.

“It’s everything I’ve ever dreamed of,” Edwards said of playing with Durant. “Hell yeah. Him and ‘Bron are the best two team people. They always want to see the person next to them shine. I’m the same way. It’s perfect.”

Said Kerr on Edwards: “This has been a great experience for him. He loves Kevin. Kevin is his idol. He is learning from him. We’re trying to help him take another step. He is a very young player. The talent is overwhelming. And as he continues to learn how to use it and be efficient with his play, he will be unguardable.”

Edwards is well-known for his athleticism, being one of the NBA’s most feared scorers and his trademark dunks, especially of the posterized variety on league opponents. The two-time NBA All-Star, however, got his first notable dunk during the Olympics in fast-break windmill fashion against Puerto Rico.

Anthony Edwards breaks out the WINDMILL in Paris! 🔥 #ParisOlympics

📺 NBC and Peacock pic.twitter.com/FdFYNz5eXr — NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) August 3, 2024

Edwards says he has been itching for a trademark during in the Olympics. He told Durant prior to the windmill dunk that one was coming soon against Puerto Rico, and actually considered throwing the ball between his legs before the windmill, too. But there is one dunk in particular that Edwards hopes to do in the Olympics as he has done often in the NBA.

“I’ve been waiting,” said Edwards, about his windmill dunk. “I want to dunk on somebody, but I haven’t got a lane yet. I’m glad I got that one [windmill]. I hope catch somebody the next three games.”

With a day off on Sunday, Edwards was hoping to see the USA women in table tennis, or as Edwards likes to call it, “ping pong.” But the ladies do not play.

The USA women’s table tennis team told Edwards they could skunk him 11-0 in a match for fun after he trash talked to the team on the American boat during the opening ceremony. Edwards was in awe of their team’s super-fast play when he attended a recent match. The USA women’s table tennis team also attended a recent USA Basketball practice and are not slated to play again until Aug. 8.

When asked to compare playing in the Olympics versus the World Cup last year, Edwards said: “Of course it’s a lot more fun. I’m playing with the greatest players of all-time. The experience is a lot better because I am able to go see ping pong or table tennis.”

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