After Team USA’s triumph in men’s basketball at the Paris Olympics earlier this month, it was revealed that superstars Kevin Durant and Steph Curry, along with rising star Anthony Edwards, missed out on the locker room celebrations. This was due to an anti-doping test conducted immediately after the gold medal game, which Team USA won 98-87 against the host nation, France.
Anthony Edwards shared details of the situation during an appearance on the Fanatic Fest podcast with former player Jalen Rose. Edwards explained that he, Durant, and Curry were selected for doping tests just after stepping off the podium for the national anthem. This unexpected turn of events prevented them from joining their teammates in the locker room celebrations.
“I’m not going to lie, me and him (Durant) had a doping test,” Edwards said. “We couldn’t celebrate the win in the locker room for real because he, me, and Steph had to take a doping test or something.”
Despite this interruption, Curry, Durant, and Edwards demonstrated their prowess throughout the Games. Curry, who led Team USA in scoring, averaged 14.8 points per game. His standout performances included a remarkable 36-point game against Serbia in the semi-final, where he hit nine three-pointers, and a solid 24-point effort with eight three-pointers in the gold medal game against France.
Durant contributed significantly as well, averaging 13.8 points per game. He was the team’s sixth-leading scorer until the final, where he started and scored 15 points. Edwards, serving as a reserve, added a valuable 12.8 points per game, providing crucial support off the bench.
Edwards reflected on the experience, noting the contrast in crowd reactions when players were introduced during the games. “Steph was No. 4, I was No. 5, Bron (LeBron James) was No. 6, and KD was No. 7,” Edwards recounted. “When they would introduce Steph, the crowd would go crazy. When they would name me, they go ‘ehhh.’ But then they’d introduce Bron and they’d go crazy, and then him (KD) and they’d go crazy again.”
Edwards added, “The fact that I was in the middle of them, I think that was the best moment of my life. My brother took a picture of that image and I thought it was the coolest picture I could have.”
Team USA’s success in the tournament, culminating in their gold medal win, was a testament to their collective talent and preparation. Despite the temporary setback of the doping tests, the team’s performance solidified their dominance in international basketball.