Anthony Edwards flashed a radiant smile as he held the NBA All-Star MVP trophy for the first time in his career, just a day after stating that Sunday’s U.S. vs. World format wouldn’t reignite competitive spirit in the league’s midseason showcase.
Whether the Minnesota Timberwolves guard was truly motivated or cleverly playing a bait-and-switch, he clearly showed he would compete and demonstrated his dedication to both competition and fan appreciation. By the time Edwards and the youthful Team Stars concluded the festivities by decisively defeating Team Stripes’ veterans in Sunday’s championship game, the weekend had already become one of the most significant events in recent league history.
Here are four of the most notable storylines that emerged from Los Angeles, including whether the revamped All-Star Game has long-term potential, why the 3-point contest trophy remains with Damian Lillard, and what NBA commissioner Adam Silver’s comments over the weekend might signal for the draft’s future.
Is the All-Star Game back? Sunday proved it’s up to the stars
All it took was seeing Victor Wembanyama storm off the floor after the first game.
After Team Stars’ Scottie Barnes was left open for a winning 3-pointer in overtime, the San Antonio Spurs’ 7-foot-4 sensation was heading in the opposite direction, talking to himself in frustration over a missed assignment.
“It was our second time allowing a 3 when we shouldn’t have,” Wembanyama remarked. “I expected us to be smarter right here, so that was disappointing.”
It’s rare for a player to use “disappointing” to describe an All-Star Game loss, especially in recent years. Typically, the game itself falls short of its promised excitement.
Though Wembanyama didn’t take home the night’s Most Valuable Player title, he might as well have. Edwards acknowledged this in his postgame press conference, admitting that Wembanyama’s towering presence pushed him to perform, driven by a fear of being outshined. Such was the motivation that fellow All-Stars were on high alert.
“Of course I played a part in it,” Wembanyama said. “If someone blocks me or if someone gets blocked on the other end, you don’t want to let the opponent score, you know what I mean?”
This is how you know this game held significance after years of indifference and criticism: Players actually broke a sweat, committed (and debated) fouls, and displayed real emotion. Wembanyama appeared undaunted by the burden of reinvigorating intensity in the All-Star Game; could this be a sign he’s ready to embody the league’s face?
For his part, Wembanyama openly recognized the underlying dynamics.
“It needs to be organic, of course,” Wembanyama said. “The NBA can promote anyone they like. But ultimately, it’s about the best players and who the fans want. Being the face of the league can be crafted, but only to a certain degree.”
His remarks created a significant impact over the weekend, with other players taking note. They didn’t require financial incentives or a motivational speech from Silver; they simply wanted to show more effort and charisma—it’s what the fans craved. True, players are stretched thin throughout the weekend, with little downtime before the regular-season challenges recommence. yet, Sunday demonstrated that the league could successfully inject drama into the game.
And even though Wembanyama didn’t earn MVP or a win, his performance on the court and passion off it secured the NBA a much-needed victory.
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Ant Edwards explains why he enjoyed the All-Star Game’s competitiveness
Anthony Edwards tells Malika Andrews why he enjoyed the NBA All-Star Game’s competitiveness this year.
Ant Man plays it cool before playing hero
Edwards stepped up when it mattered, even in the game his team lost to Team Stripes, forcing a steal from Kevin Durant and attempting a transition 3 that would have secured the win for his team until De’Aaron Fox hit his own buzzer-beater. Throughout the evening, Edwards’ energy propelled his team, especially in the championship game as the older players on Team Stripes began to fatigue. Edwards remained spry and had no trouble guiding Team Stars to a victory that fell short of the excitement of the first three games.
His laid-back demeanor masked a fierce competitive spirit, which was evident to Detroit Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff, who had only spent a minimal amount of time with Edwards prior to this weekend.
“I appreciate players who bring that energy every single day, those who possess that spark,” Bickerstaff said. “Individuals who exude joy around the game, where basketball isn’t a chore, but something they genuinely love.”
Perhaps Edwards genuinely shies away from the burden of leading the league’s next generation. Maybe he prefers not to be constantly scrutinized under the spotlight. Yet, there’s no denying his presence; the way he engages with the cameras and appears at ease in his own skin might concern a league office that prefers its stars to be polished and predictable—qualities not always associated with the dynamic 24-year-old.
Edwards’ vibrant personality sometimes overshadows the hard work he has dedicated to his game. The Minnesota Timberwolves have been the sole constant in the NBA’s version of the Final Four for the past two years, with Edwards at the helm. He may not yet be a Finals champion, but he has taken down some of the league’s titans in the past two postseasons: Nikola Jokic, LeBron James, and Kevin Durant.
Do Silver’s comments on tanking spell draft changes?
In one of Silver’s most significant interviews during All-Star Weekend, the commissioner talked about expansion and the potential for relocation. yet, the buzz centered around tanking, a growing concern in the league with numerous rebuilding teams seemingly chasing better draft positions.
Will the league further flatten lottery odds? What about eliminating the draft altogether and allowing prospects to choose their teams?
So far, the latter topic has not been raised in discussions with the competition committee, sources informed ESPN. The prospect of tournament-style competitions among lottery-bound teams has also failed to gain traction, highlighting how far any move to eliminate the draft is from the league’s current agenda. Significant hurdles, including negotiating any draft changes collectively, would need to be overcome.
Currently, with the Utah Jazz facing scrutiny, the NBA appears to be exploring a variety of options to combat tanking. This has included talks of imposing steeper fines and possibly stripping franchises of draft picks if blatant tactics are employed.
During discussions with league officials over the weekend, some sources showed openness to alternative strategies, like establishing lottery odds earlier in the season rather than waiting until after the full 82-game slate. Most importantly, a high-ranking league official pointed out the need to address fines for teams blatantly bending the rules.
“You hit them where it hurts, in the wallet,” they noted. “What if they don’t receive their full revenue share if found guilty by the league?”
Tanking threatens the very essence of competition in the league. whether or not this season has created an ideal storm of teams losing to position themselves ahead of a potential generational draft class, the league should explore every avenue to curb the perennial race to the bottom.
The return of Dame Time, 3-point contest king
Nobody wanted to witness Damian Lillard looking like a mere shadow of himself in the 3-point contest, especially given that the last impression many had of him was holding a torn Achilles from last season’s playoffs. yet, Lillard was determined not to exit on that note, ultimately outlasting Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker and Charlotte Hornets rookie Kon Knueppel for his third 3-point title.
“It started off as more of a joke,” Lillard recounted regarding his decision to enter the contest. “Something came up… It was that simple. I said I would do it, and the next day I was competing.”
though he can’t sprint or engage in serious on-court activities right now, he can certainly still shoot from beyond the arc.
“I believe this was necessary and important for the fans,” Lillard stated. “I remember being a kid and attending All-Star Weekend in 2000 when it was in Oakland. The highlight was seeing who would go up against whom in the dunk contest and the 3-point shootout. I was once a fan like that.”
Unlike Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum, Lillard isn’t vying to contribute to a contender’s playoff push this year, but the 35-year-old future Hall of Famer appears to have inspired his fellow sharpshooters to join him next season.
Stephen Curry, the league’s career 3-point leader, announced on Sunday that he intends to participate in next year’s competition in Phoenix, adding that he might persuade former teammate Klay Thompson to join him.
While both Curry and Thompson are undoubtedly in the twilight of their NBA careers, it’s no surprise to see Curry’s competitive spirit reigniting for one last hurrah during All-Star Weekend. If next season’s 3-point contest proves exciting, it may well be thanks to Lillard, who embodies the spirit of the weekend and is inspiring other big names to step up. Perhaps the dunk contest, long the centerpiece of All-Star Saturday night, needs similar star power to reignite its appeal.
