The United States still certainly touts the largest depth of talent in men’s basketball in the world, exemplified by the country’s roster filled with one elite NBA player after another.

But one question for Team USA does remain: Who’s the best player?

The near-consensus-best four players in the world — Nikola Jokic, who will lead Serbia against the U.S. on Sunday to open Olympic group play, Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander — are all internationals.

NBA player rankings would suggest the top American is Jayson Tatum, who just led a supremely talented Celtics roster to a title, or 2022-23 NBA MVP Joel Embiid.

“Best American player” is a title that has been up for grabs since LeBron James seemingly aged out of the role, though in pre-Olympic games, James sure still looks to be the player most leaned upon when the going gets tough.

Steph Curry and Kevin Durant are also getting up there in age, but on any given night they are more than capable of being the best player on the court.

Perhaps it is Tatum, Embiid or even a guy like Anthony Davis.

Timberwolves fans would like to argue that it is Anthony Edwards. And, frankly, Edwards does have a growing case. He’s one of the most stunning athletes in basketball, and his scoring and general Basketball IQ are indeed growing each year. Defensively, he makes some jaw-dropping plays while defending the ball handler. And Edwards, who certainly possesses the charisma and confidence to be the face of American basketball, doesn’t turn 23 years old until next week.

Still, the Wolves guard likely hasn’t yet claimed that role. His awareness and decision-making haven’t yet ascended to that level, though he does appear to be on his way.

And if there’s a big shot to be taken at some point during the Paris Games, Edwards will not shy away from taking it. But there shouldn’t be a rush to make him “the guy.” Not on this team, and especially not on this roster.

Edwards made headlines during Team USA training camp earlier this month in Las Vegas when he told reporters — perhaps tongue-in-cheek — that he’s “the No. 1 option” on this stacked team.

“They’ve got to fit in around me,” he said. “That’s how I feel.”

Edwards always speaks with a comical level of bravado, so parsing through comments to find his true feelings can be a bit of a chore. In general, he has the utmost respect for the game’s greats. Durant has always been the basketball icon whom Edwards most admires.

That doesn’t mean he’ll defer in key moments. And that’s what the public loves about Edwards.

But would it be the worst thing if he did make an effort to fit around other great players? He’ll never be asked to in Minnesota. That’s not his role, nor will it ever be.

But Team USA marks a rare opportunity for Edwards to adapt to the talent around him. Everyone on the roster can play 1 on 1 basketball. And, in their exhibition games, many of them did just that. It’s why the team’s offense has been such an eyesore ahead of the Olympics and many of the results have been far closer than the talent discrepancy suggests they should be.

While it’s cool for local fans to watch their favorite player “take charge” and lead the team in scoring, what would be more impressive in these Olympics is if Edwards is able to diagnose the other things Team USA needs to be successful and takes it upon himself to bring those assets to the table.

Maybe that’s screening, cutting or providing proper spacing as an off-ball shooter. Defensively, it could simply be putting his all into taking on his individual defensive assignment, both from an on-ball and team defense perspective.

That’s not to say Edwards couldn’t still deliver a highlight-reel slam that circulated social media, but mixed into his game clips could also be simple things like keeping the ball moving around the horn with no holding, and identifying and denying a backdoor cut.

Learning and executing those intricacies of the game would only help Edwards develop as an all-around player capable of carrying the Timberwolves to an NBA championship next season or beyond. Winning plays come in all different forms.

While everyone wants their favorite player to look and play like LeBron James, it never hurts to add some Jrue Holiday to your game.

The latter, by the way, not only played a large role in the U.S. winning gold in Tokyo, but also just hoisted his second Larry O’Brien trophy last month.

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