Watch: Anthony Edwards mocks French crowd for booing Joel Embiid vs Serbia
Anthony Edwards and Team USA started their Olympic basketball journey on a strong note, defeating the most difficult opponent in Group C, Serbia, 110-84. Kevin Durant and LeBron James led the way for the American team with 23 and 21 points, respectively.
The Minnesota Timberwolves star made a solid Olympic debut. Moreover, when he wasn't playing, Edwards defended teammate Joel Embiid, who was being booed by French fans.
In the third quarter of the game, as Embiid tried to score on Nikola Jokic, the Philadelphia 76ers star got a foul from the Serbian center. Plenty of fans started booing Embiid and Edwards saw a chance to mock them, doing the Degeneration X celebration near the bench.
This is the same celebration that Joel Embiid mimicked in the NBA, only to be penalized later. As far as booing is concerned, Embiid made some 'enemies' when he picked Team USA over France to play international basketball. The boos are expected to continue for the rest of the competition.
Anthony Edwards had a solid outing against Serbia
Besides trying to get back at French fans, Anthony Edwards was focused on helping Team USA get the first win of the Olympic tournament. He made some flashy plays for fans, showing off his athleticism.
At the end of the first quarter, he got a lob off LeBron James and completed the alley-oop that sent everybody into a frenzy. Team USA got a five-point lead after that play, which could have had a major effect in the second quarter.
Moreover, he showed off his footwork against a Serbian defender, getting two points after a terrific play at the post.
Anthony Edwards played 19 minutes, adding five rebounds and 11 points. He shot for 66.7% from the field while missing one of the two free-throw attempts he got.
After a terrific 2023–24 NBA season, Edwards keeps playing at a high level.