Fresh off a star-making run to the 2024 Western Conference Finals with the Minnesota Timberwolves, Anthony Edwards has been soaking in everything the 2024 Paris Olympics have had to offer thus far.
For the Team USA guard, there have been few aspects of the experience more enjoyable than table tennis.
On Monday, one day after he scored 11 points and pulled down five rebounds in Team USA’s 110-84 victory against Serbia in its Olympic opener, Edwards was spotted in the crowd enthusiastically cheering on American Lily Zhang against Brazil’s Bruna Takahashi in the round of 32 of the women’s table tennis singles tournament.
Zhang went on to win her match 4-2 and advance to the round of 16.
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It’s not the first time Edwards has engaged with the sport since arriving in Paris.
On the boat carrying the United States delegation before Friday’s opening ceremony on the Seine River, Edwards met the members of the American table tennis team and insisted that he would score at least one point against them in a game, with Olympic teammate Steph Curry prodding him by saying “They said they can smack you 21 nothing.”
“I don’t believe it. I’m not having it,” Edwards said. “Eleven to zero? I’m scoring one point.”
The sight of an NBA superstar, particularly one with Edwards’ magnetic personality, taking in and very obviously enjoying a sport much different and less high-profile than his own drew amused reaction on social media.
