“Anthony Edwards Would Not Be Denied”: ex-Celtics Champ Won’t Mind If 23YO Star Gets Jayson Tatum’s Minutes

As we have pointed out many times over, the biggest dilemma Steve Kerr faces with the stacked Team USA roster is whom to play. Given how every single player is a superstar in their own right, even the youngest members, Anthony Edwards and Tyrese Haliburton, there will almost always be a group who are going to be unhappy with Coach Kerr’s choices. The most controversial of them happened in their tournament opener itself.

The 2024 NBA champion and the Celtics’ franchise star, Jayson Tatum, was a DNP’d for Team USA’s first game against Serbia. While the man in question showed great professionalism, saying all the right things, a tinge of disappointment was apparent. “The competitor in you wants to play, obviously. But I’m not here to make a story, making it about myself,” was JT’s response to the benching.

However, it seems like there is a certain ex-NBA champion who wouldn’t mind Tatum not getting enough minutes. Or more specifically, he wouldn’t mind Anthony Edwards getting the ex-Duke alum’s minutes. We are talking about none other than Kendrick Perkins, the former Celtics’ star center. Joining the Road Trippin’ Podcast’s latest Olympic post-game episode, Perk was all praise for ANT. 

“Look, Anthony Edwards would not be denied! Everybody be wondering if Jayson Tatum gonna get minutes. Who’s going to get minutes and who’s going to get shots is Anthony Edwards,” the ‘Big Perk’ stated. “That man is coming out there; some people are saying he’s playing selfish basketball at times. That’s because he has the green light not only by Steve Kerr and his coaching staff but by Bron, KD, and Steph. They like, ‘Hey, look, young fella, go do what you do,'” Perkins reasoned.

While the ESPN analyst might have some points, it is definitely going well over with Boston fans. And considering Perkins’ ties to the ‘Beantown,’ we can safely say that they aren’t going easy on him for the treachery (how else would they view his endorsement of a rival team’s player over their own franchise superstar?).

Having said that, shall we take a quick look at whether Perk was saying the truth?

Kendrick Perkins’ Anthony Edwards take – Fact check

Perkins’ claim that Edwards is playing the way he is doing, consistently racking up points in the Team USA squadron, which leads many to believe that he is a ball hog, is because he’s got ‘GO’ to do so, might have some truth to it. Check out what Steve Kerr said of Team USA’s leading scorer.

“Anthony can score anytime in any situation. The benefit of having a guy like that is, in a tight situation, you need a shot, you know he can get one… We’re trying to help him take another step. You saw Saturday the talent is overwhelming and as he continues to learn how to use it and be efficient in his play, he’ll be unguardable.”

Next up, Kevin Durant. KD’s response to whether he saw any similarities between himself and ANT was the crowning moment. “He approaches the game almost the same way mentally, wanting to be the best he can be every day. Defensively, I think that’s what separates him, puts him in that class of great players already is that he locks in on the defensive side of the ball. Nah, I can’t teach somebody that good anything!”

As for LeBron James, we have the testimony from Edwards himself. Ranking fourth in the all-time assists list, James has no qualms about finding his teammates for open looks. “He [James] loves to pass it to me. I love to catch it and shoot it. I told him, ‘If you’ve got no shot, I’ll find one,’” Anthony said after their final win of the group play against Puerto Rico.

Clearly, Edwards has received the “green light,” as Perkins stated. Some of the top names in the NBA giving a young guard, light years from the kind of status they hold, his flowers, speak volumes. And if that’s not enough, here’s the ultimate Olympian, Carmelo Anthony’s reason for choosing Anthony Edwards over Jayson Tatum as the next face of the league.

“He won. He’s successful,” Melo said of JT in a July episode of his podcast earlier this year. “[Yet] The reason why we put Anthony Edwards there is because of his aura. If JT had that aura, it’s over.” Just saying. Thoughts?

 Before you go, do not forget to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Asia Avinger.