Staff USA wrapped up a 3-0 jaunt by means of the group section of the 2024 Olympics on Saturday with a 104-83 drubbing of Puerto Rico that basically wasn’t as shut because the rating suggests.

And though just a few moments of Joel Embiid trolling a crowd that is been tough on him all through the Individuals’ time in Lille, France was enjoyable, the largest takeaway from Saturday’s sport was undoubtedly the continued ascent of Anthony Edwards.

Within the blowout in opposition to Puerto Rico, that was, no less than on one play, literal.

But this rise began long before Edwards windmilled in transition for an exclamation point on Saturday’s win. It started long before he dropped 26 points on 11-of-15 shooting in that game. It started before he emerged from this group phase as Team USA’s leading scorer.

Edwards has been on his way up for months. And leading the most decorated national team in Olympics history to another gold, at this point, just feels like another box for him to check.

On a defense-first team tailor-made to help Edwards focus on leading his offense, Ant averaged 25.9 points and 5.1 assists this past season. Then, as he has for each of the last three years, he elevated his game in the playoffs.

This spring and summer alone, he swept Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns, eliminated the reigning champion Denver Nuggets and averaged 27.6 points and 6.5 assists while shooting 40.0 percent from three.

Then, after plenty of discussion about his potential to be the next “face of the NBA,” Edwards joined an American aspect that featured KD (arguably the best Olympic basketball participant of all time), LeBron James (arguably one of the best NBA participant of all time) and Stephen Curry (inarguably one of the best shooter of all time).

Loads of up-and-comers, even after receiving the sort of reward Edwards did through the playoffs, would’ve entered that scenario with some deference for the all-timers.

Edwards did not (no less than not in the way in which some may’ve anticipated).

Throughout Staff USA’s truncated coaching camp in Las Vegas in July, Edwards let the world know he’d strategy the Olympics like he would every other match.

“I am nonetheless the No. 1 choice,” Edwards instructed reporters. “Y’all may take a look at it in another way, however I do not.”

A month later, Edwards is backing up his daring assertion.

Following his 26-point efficiency, Edwards is averaging a team-leading 16.7 factors. That is greater than Durant (16.0), LeBron (14.3) or anybody else within the crimson, white and blue. And the hole is even larger in field-goal makes an attempt.

Ant turns 23 this month. Twenty-three. And he already has the boldness to take a look at maybe the best assemblage of basketball expertise we have ever seen and suppose: Yeah, I am the person on this crew.

LeBron, KD and Curry are all surefire, first-ballot Corridor of Famers. Embiid is a former MVP and perennial All-NBA contender. Derrick White, Jrue Vacation, Bam Adebayo and Anthony Davis are among the many greatest defenders within the NBA. Jayson Tatum simply led his crew to an NBA title. And Devin Booker is a 27-year-old, four-time All-Star who’s eighth all time in profession playoff scoring common.

And but, Edwards is threatening to complete the Olympics because the face of this crew.

On the very least, he’ll generate the speaking level in a lot the identical manner he did within the playoffs: with the relentless confidence that has him seeking to dominate each particular person possession he performs.

For years, followers and far of the collective media that covers the NBA have questioned who would lead the league into its post-LeBron/Curry/KD period.

Maybe partly as a result of many of the 30 groups are in America and there is a heavy affect from American media, multi-time MVPs like Nikola Jokić and Giannis Antetokounmpo appear to have been handed on on this dialogue.

Tatum already has a title and considerably extra crew success than Edwards, however he would not dominate with the sort of particular person bravado earlier torch-bearers like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant did.

There are different contenders, after all (like Luka Dončić and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander), however nobody is piling up moments fairly like Edwards. And positively, nobody is piling up these moments with the sort of angle and strategy Ant is.

Immeasurable as that is, it simply feels like Edwards desires this accountability as a lot or greater than anybody. He should not be anointed merely for that. Successful on the highest stage (on each the worldwide and home levels) must occur. His sport nonetheless wants some refining (shot choice, playmaking and consistency might all enhance).

However Edwards is undoubtedly on his manner. The Olympics have given him one other alternative to show that.