Anthony Edwards, the 22-year-old phenom from the Minnesota Timberwolves, has created headlines in the sporting world once again. But this time, it’s not just for his skills on the basketball court. Recently, Edwards released a freestyle rap on Instagram, and it’s quickly going viral. The freestyle celebrates Team USA’s gold medal victory at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris and is packed with shoutouts to some of the biggest names in basketball.
Edwards holds the golden medal in his hand for a one-minute video and freestyles on camera about the wonderful journey of an Olympic team all the way to glory. Full of energy and confidence, the freestyle captures the excitement of the moment. But the real magic of this rap is in how Edwards salutes his teammates—stars like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Devin Booker, and Kevin Durant—who, for years, had taken over the steering wheels of Team USA, and whose greatness seems to be reflected on him.
Anthony Edwards freestyles about the Olympic basketball team pic.twitter.com/HHvEYHVCaM
— Daily Loud (@DailyLoud) August 22, 2024
Edwards was inspired by Team USA’s triumph in the 2024 Paris Olympics; he wanted to celebrate uniquely with his fans. With the hard-hitting lyrics and shoutouts to his teammates, Edwards wanted to make it personal and engaging—almost like giving a tribute to the team’s success.
With international play finally coming to a close for legends in the game such as LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant, Edwards is set to be the next torchbearer for Team USA. His freestyle honors the current victory but also teases his aspiration to lead the national team in future competitions.
The journey in Paris for the Olympics was a spectacular one for Edwards. He was one of the young men on the team, with big shoes to fill, but he did not shy away from the challenge. On the court, he was a key player whom Team USA could not afford to do without. Off the court, he was the life-of-the-party guy, making new friends, taking selfies during the opening ceremony, and even challenging Team USA table tennis.
During the Olympics, Edwards had to be prepared for a variety of surprise challenges that would be thrown at him, testing his adaptability and resilience. Most basic was getting over physical tiredness due to competitive levels getting high. Edwards had to master handling his stamina and performance most of the tournament, besides the transition to international basketball. With little prior experience in the FIBA style of play, he would then again have to adjust to different rules and a faster pace of the game.
Among the most astonishing ones was his 23rd birthday surprise. Now, Edwards was in Paris, and his Team USA teammates had gone the extra mile to make sure it would be surprising and memorable. A bunch of celebrities, including LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and rapper Gunna, collaborated to make it, so to speak, not only nice but memorable. Surprise—it is a perfect display of camaraderie between teammates in such an event.
With the NBA season lurking around the corner, however, it can only mean that bigger things are on the horizon for Edwards. He is in the studio creating new work and expanding his signature sneaker line with Adidas. Kicking off with his first shoe, the Adidas AE 1, colorways continue to add to their collection, incorporating not only performance but also his unique style and story into each pair of sneakers. Not meant to do anything but make a statement, just like this freestyle.
Edwards has already taken off the shackles in participating in the next World Cup in 2027. In four years, time he might already be rejoicing in another victory for Team USA.
