Anthony Edwards had a front-row seat to greatness during the 2024 Paris Olympics. Being part of Team USA allowed him to spend extended time around legends LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant, not just during games but in practices, shootarounds, and daily preparation. What he noticed most was not the highlights or the talent, but the discipline behind it.

They have been doing the same thing every single day, and according to Edwards, that is exactly why they have accomplished so much in their careers.

Spending that much time with them gave him perspective. Watching how they prepare, how they warm up, how they recover, and how they approach each day showed him that greatness is built on routine. It is not about constantly searching for something new. It is about mastering the same process repeatedly.

“Playing with them on the USA team, it taught me about having a routine, especially when it comes to being on the court,” Edwards said postgame at the 2026 All-Star Game in LA. “Watching Steph, KD, and Bron every day do the same routine, it’s like it’s normal for a person to get bored with the same thing, waking up, doing this every single day. But I feel like that’s what made them great and that’s what they taught me for sure.”

That level of consistency is what separates sustained greatness from short-term success. For most players, repetition can feel monotonous. For players like Curry, LeBron, and Durant, repetition creates comfort and confidence. Their routines have allowed them to remain elite deep into their careers, adjusting their games as needed but never abandoning the foundation that built them.

Edwards clearly understands that now, and he is beginning to apply those lessons to his own journey.

Letting the work speak for itself

At 24 years old, Edwards is already moving in the right direction. Being named All-Star Game MVP is another step forward in his growth as one of the faces of the league. However, for him, the recognition is not the final goal. It is simply progress.

Edwards has made it clear that he does not want to be just one of the best players in the league, but instead he wants to be THe best. That mindset aligns directly with the habits he observed during the Olympics.

When asked what the All-Star MVP win meant to him, he kept it simple.

“It is a step in the right direction for sure. We chose to compete today, and we came out on top.”

That statement carried weight because of the context surrounding the All-Star Game in recent years. The event has been criticized for lacking competitiveness and intensity, with many fans feeling that players were not taking it seriously. Edwards embraced the opportunity to compete and help change that narrative. He understood that effort matters, even in exhibition and pickup basketball settings, because habits carry over into bigger moments.

The performance was not just about scoring or highlights. Instead, it was about showing that the next generation values competition and takes pride in it. Victor Wembanyama, a fellow young superstar like Edwards, played hard from the get go and Edwards admitted it was him who got him going.

Confidence plays a major role in that. Edwards has never lacked self-belief, but when asked where that confidence comes from, he pointed directly back to the work.

When asked about where he thinks that confidence comes from, Edwards offered a simple yet strong statement.

“I feel like it comes from the work, all the hours I put in the gym. I am always in the gym, so being in the gym and shooting all those shots all the time you build confidence within that.”

That answer ties everything together. The same routine that he saw from Curry, LeBron, and Durant is the same routine he is building for himself. His confidence is not random. But rather it is developed through repetition, preparation, and countless unseen hours in the gym.

Edwards is still early in his career, and he has not yet accomplished what those three legends have achieved. However, the foundation is being built the right way. He recognizes that greatness is not accidental and that talent alone is not enough to sustain dominance over time.

If he continues to apply those lessons and maintain that daily discipline, his ceiling becomes even higher. He already has the athleticism, scoring ability, and charisma to lead the next era of stars. Pairing that with routine and relentless work gives him a real chance to reach the level he aspires to.