INGLEWOOD — Anthony Edwards has said it boldly and confidently for years. He intends to be the best basketball player in the world.
The Minnesota Timberwolves guard got to beat the World on Sunday, thanks to the NBA All-Star Game’s intriguing new format — and then he also beat a team of his fellow Americans to cap an MVP performance.
Edwards led his “Stars” team past a “Stripes” squad featuring LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard 47-21 to win the final in this mini-tournament comprising the entertaining main event of All-Star weekend at the Los Angeles Clippers’ Intuit Dome.
The NBA’s fourth All-Star format in four years matched two teams of Americans against a team representing everywhere else, hoping to stoke nationalistic passion from players and fans during an Olympic year.
The results were solid, with three exciting mini-games in the round-robin tournament all going down to the buzzer before the blowout finale.
“I like this format,” Edwards said. “I think it makes us compete because it’s only 12 minutes, and the three different teams separate the guys. I think it was really good.”
Along with the late-game theatrics, the event generally appeared to be played at a higher level of competitiveness than most All-Star Games in recent years, suggesting the league might have finally cracked the code on the long-standing question of how to make this midseason showcase more entertaining.
Edwards forced overtime with a clutch 3-pointer before Scottie Barnes hit a game-ending, overtime 3-pointer for his team in the opening mini-game against the World.
De’Aaron Fox hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to win the second game for the slightly older Stripes over the slightly younger Stars.
Leonard then thrilled his home crowd with a 31-point barrage for the Stripes in the final round-robin game, including a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 3.5 seconds left.
The Stripes appeared to be gassed in the finale, but Edwards and his teammates didn’t let up.
When asked to identify his most satisfying moment Sunday, Edwards replied: “Probably beating the World team.”
Why?
“Because they say they’re the best players in the world,” he replied. “So beating them is the best feeling in the world.”
Already a four-time All-Star at 24 years old, the six-year NBA veteran has been on the world stage before, winning an Olympic gold medal two years ago in Paris. He has also led the Wolves to the Western Conference finals in two straight seasons.
Edwards claimed his first All-Star MVP trophy — an award named for Kobe Bryant — with that tying 3-pointer to cap a 13-point effort in the first game, an 11-point performance in the second, and eight points in the anticlimactic final.
The Inglewood crowd included former President Barack Obama, who received a standing ovation pregame — and even motivated Edwards’ performance.
“He’s my favorite person in the world,” Edwards said. “We were kicking it (Saturday). Me and him had a great time. I told him I was going to put on a show for him.”
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver thanked the All-Stars for playing hard when he presented the championship trophy to the Stars.
Victor Wembanyama effectively challenged his fellow All-Stars to take this game seriously, and they largely appeared to do it. Despite going 0-2, Wembanyama led the World team in scoring in both games with 14 points in the opener and 19 in the third game.
“It felt good to be out there with greats, new and old, and even international guys, too,” Kevin Durant said. “Hopefully we just build upon this and the weekend becomes more and more competitive.”
The World team was loaded with talent, but went 0-2 after NBA scoring leader Luka Doncic and three-time MVP Nikola Jokic both sat out the second game, likely to preserve the health of two superstars who have struggled with injury in the past month. Giannis Antetokounmpo also didn’t suit up at all.
First game
Barnes’ 3-pointer in overtime pushed the Stars past the World 37-36.
Edwards forced OT on a 3-pointer with 13.3 seconds left in regulation, and he hit a 14-footer to begin the first-to-five-points overtime period. Wembanyama made a 3-pointer, but Raptors star Barnes ended it by draining his only shot of the game.
Second game
Donovan Mitchell took a pass under the net from James and kicked it out to Fox on the perimeter for the winner.
Jaylen Brown led the Stripes with 11 points, and James scored eight to begin his record 21st All-Star appearance.
A few hours beforehand, James said the game’s presence in the Los Angeles area meant “nothing, because this is not our building. This is a road game.”
Indeed, the Clippers fans in Intuit Dome booed James and Doncic whenever they touched the ball.
Third game
Leonard utterly dominated even before his clutch 3-pointer to cap the Stripes’ 48-45 victory.
Leonard thrilled his home crowd with a dynamic effort, going 11 of 13 and 6 of 7 from beyond the arc. The seven-time All-Star made his first seven shots with five 3-pointers amid raucous cheers from the extra-steep supporters’ section called The Wall behind one basket at this futuristic 18-month-old arena.
James put the Stripes ahead with 31 seconds left on a putback dunk, but Wembanyama hit two free throws to tie it before Leonard called game.
Jokic and Doncic didn’t play, leaving the World with just seven players.
Up next
The All-Star weekend stays out West in February 2027 when Phoenix hosts for the fourth time.
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