Anthony Edwards Wins All-Star MVP, Leads Stars to Tourney Win/ TezzBuzz/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Anthony Edwards captured the Kobe Bryant All-Star MVP award after leading the Stars to victory in the NBA’s revamped All-Star tournament. The Minnesota Timberwolves guard starred in a competitive three-game mini-tournament at Intuit Dome. The new format delivered late-game drama and a heightened level of intensity.
Anthony Edwards All-Star MVP Quick Looks
- Edwards wins first Kobe Bryant All-Star MVP trophy
- Stars defeat Stripes 47-21 in tournament final
- New USA vs. World-inspired format debuts
- Kawhi Leonard drops 31 points in round-robin
- Scottie Barnes, De’Aaron Fox deliver clutch shots
- NBA All-Star Game held at Intuit Dome
Deep Look: Anthony Edwards Wins All-Star MVP as New Tournament Format Energizes NBA Showcase
Anthony Edwards has long declared his ambition to become the best basketball player in the world. On Sunday night in Inglewood, California, he delivered another bold statement on that journey.
The Minnesota Timberwolves guard earned MVP honors at the 2026 NBA All-Star Game after leading his “Stars” squad to victory in a newly designed mini-tournament format that injected energy and late-game drama into the league’s annual midseason showcase.
Playing at the Intuit Dome, Edwards helped power the Stars to a decisive 47-21 win over the “Stripes” team in the tournament final. The event marked the fourth format change in as many years for the NBA All-Star Game, with this edition pitting two American squads against a team representing international players during an Olympic year.
Edwards Delivers MVP Performance
Edwards’ MVP performance unfolded across three short, high-intensity games. He scored 13 points in the opening contest, including a clutch 3-pointer to force overtime against the World team. He added 11 points in the second matchup and eight more in the final, capping his night with the Kobe Bryant All-Star MVP trophy.
The 24-year-old, already a four-time All-Star and six-year NBA veteran, thrived in the faster-paced format featuring 12-minute mini-games and first-to-five overtime rules.
“I like this format,” Edwards said afterward, noting that the condensed structure forced players to compete with greater urgency.
His most satisfying moment? Defeating the World team.
“Because they say they’re the best players in the world,” Edwards said. “So beating them is the best feeling in the world.”
Competitive Edge Returns to All-Star Weekend
After years of criticism over lackluster defense and inflated scoring totals, the league appeared to find a formula that restored competitiveness.
The opening game saw Edwards hit a 3-pointer with 13.3 seconds left to force overtime. In the first-to-five extra session, he scored again before Scottie Barnes drained a game-winning 3-pointer to lift the Stars past the World 37-36.
In the second contest, De’Aaron Fox buried a buzzer-beating 3-pointer after a setup from LeBron James and Donovan Mitchell, giving the Stripes a dramatic win over the Stars.
The final round-robin matchup belonged to Kawhi Leonard, who electrified the home crowd with 31 points, shooting 11-of-13 from the field and 6-of-7 from beyond the arc. Leonard sealed the 48-45 victory with a clutch 3-pointer with 3.5 seconds remaining.
Despite Leonard’s heroics, the Stripes appeared fatigued entering the championship game, where Edwards and the Stars dominated.
Star Power and Global Talent
The World team featured elite international talent, including Victor Wembanyama, who led his squad in scoring in both appearances with 14 and 19 points. However, key stars Luka Dončić and Nikola Jokić sat out the second contest, likely prioritizing health amid recent injury concerns. Giannis Antetokounmpo did not participate.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver praised the players for their competitive effort when presenting the championship trophy.
“It felt good to be out there with greats, new and old,” said Kevin Durant, expressing hope that the intensity continues in future editions.
High-Profile Crowd and Olympic Context
The Inglewood crowd featured former President Barack Obamawho received a standing ovation before tipoff. Edwards later revealed that he had promised to “put on a show” for Obama.
The Olympic-year format added national pride to the competition, subtly encouraging players to represent their respective groups with more urgency.
Fans at the Clippers’ state-of-the-art arena created a charged atmosphere, particularly during Leonard’s scoring barrage, as “The Wall” supporters’ section erupted behind one basket.
Looking Ahead
With the 2026 All-Star festivities concluding on a high note, attention now turns to 2027, when the event heads to Phoenix for the fourth time.
For Edwards, Sunday night was another milestone in an already impressive young career that includes an Olympic gold medal and consecutive Western Conference finals appearances with Minnesota.
If his All-Star MVP performance is any indication, his quest to become the game’s best remains firmly on track.
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