Don’t expect Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards to represent the U.S. team at the next FIBA ​​Basketball World Cup.

“Absolutely not,” he said, according to Joe Vardon of The Athletic, when asked if he would compete in the tournament again after the U.S. won gold at the 2024 Summer Olympics.

When it comes to Edwards’ status for the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, fans can read between the lines.

“I can’t speak to that,” he said, according to Shaun Powell of NBA.com. “I can only speak to what’s around my neck right now. … That was the most fun I’ve ever had playing basketball.”

Edwards was a clear bright spot for the United States at the 2023 World Cup, where the team finished fourth after a third-place loss to Canada. He was the United States’ leading scorer (18.9 points) in eight games.

Earning a spot on the Olympic team was a testament to his strong performances last summer. He played in all six games in Paris and averaged 12.8 points and 1.2 assists in 16.3 minutes per game.

Edwards is theoretically someone USA Basketball is building around for the next Olympic cycle. At 23, he is just beginning to reach his prime playing years, unlike the likes of LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis and Joel Embiid, who are all 30 or older.

That’s why it’s less than ideal if the two-time All-Star withdraws from the race for the 2027 World Cup. It suggests that USA Basketball CEO Grant Hill could once again be forced to build a team for the World Cup and then an almost entirely different one for the Olympics.

Assembling the best possible roster was still a recipe for success at this year’s Olympics, but the lack of continuity within the U.S. team may prove to be the recipe for success in the long run. The rest of the world is getting better and most countries benefit from having their best stars compete together at consecutive major tournaments.

Based on Edwards’ comments, fans should already be prepared for the anger that would arise if the USA missed out on a medal at the World Championships.