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Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards believes he is the “No. 1 option” for Team USA, whether the Olympians are competing on a basketball court or a pool.
Edwards told Craig Melvin on the Today Show that he would be able to beat his USA Basketball teammates in a freestyle swim event.
“They ain’t no swimmers,” Edwards said.
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“My only challengers are [Devin Booker] when he might not know how to swim. Jrue [Holiday] might drown. And [Tyrese] Haliburton, oh my god. If Haliburton beat me then I just need to never touch the water again.”
– Anthony Edwards 😂
Edwards named Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker as his greatest— and only—challenge in the hypothetical event.
“You got Joel big Embiid, you got AD, and Bam. They ain’t swimming fast,” Edwards said. “Bron, he ain’t swimming fast. KD, Kawhi, Tatum, they’re not swimming fast at all.
“So, my only challenges are Book, and he might not know how to swim. Jrue, he might drown. And Haliburton, oh my God. If Haliburton beat me then I just need to never touch the water again.”
The Wolves guard did not mention Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry or Boston Celtics defense specialist Derrick White in his breakdown of the USA Basketball roster, but it’s safe to say Edwards is likely confident he could out-swim them as well.
This is not the first time Edwards has expressed confidence in his athletic abilities outside basketball. He said during his rookie 2020-21 season that he could have made it in the MLB had he decided to pursue baseball as his main sport.
Edwards’ confidence seems to be paying off, given that he averaged career-high 25.9 points for the Timberwolves last season and is now headed to the Olympics for the first time.
