For years, Anthony Edwards has confidently stated that he aims to become the best basketball player in the world, and on Sunday night he took another step toward that goal.
The Minnesota Timberwolves star led his "Stars" team to triumph in the new NBA All-Star Game format, also winning the MVP award of the tournament that took place at the Intuit Dome, the new home of the Los Angeles Clippers.
The Stars convincingly defeated the Stripes 47-21 in the mini-tournament final, where the opposing team featured names like LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard.
The new All-Star format, the fourth in the last four years, divided the players into three teams, with the US selections facing off against the “World” team, in an attempt to increase the rivalry and competitive intensity. The result was positive: three dramatic mini-games in the group stage were decided in the final seconds.
"I like this format. It makes us compete more because it's only 12 minutes and the teams are split up differently. It was really good," Edwards said.
The 24-year-old scored 13 points in the first game, 11 in the second and eight in the final, securing his first All-Star MVP trophy - the award named after Kobe Bryant.
Against Team World, Edwards sent the game into overtime with a three-pointer with 13.3 seconds left. In the overtime, which was played to five points, he scored for the lead, while Scottie Barnes sealed the victory 37-36 with a decisive three-pointer.
"My best moment? Probably the win against the World. Because they claim to be the best players in the world. Beating them is the best feeling," Edwards said.
In the next game, De'Aaron Fox scored the winning three-pointer for the Stripes, after an assist from Donovan Mitchell, who had received the ball from James.
Leonard was spectacular in the group stage, scoring 31 points, including the game-winning basket with 3.5 seconds left in another dramatic duel.
Higher intensity, positive signals for the NBA
The games were played with a significantly higher intensity compared to recent years, suggesting that the league may have finally found the right formula to make All-Star more competitive.
National Basketball Association Commissioner Adam Silver thanked the players for their seriousness and strong play.
Meanwhile, Victor Wembanyama was among the most active for the "World" team, scoring 14 and 19 points in his two games, even though his team finished 0-2.
"It felt good to be on the court with the greats, the young and the veterans, as well as the internationals," said Kevin Durant.
Important absences and a fiery atmosphere
The "World" team was weakened by the absences of Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic in the second game, while Giannis Antetokounmpo did not play at all, due to workload management and physical problems.
Former US President Barack Obama was also present in the stands, receiving a standing ovation from the audience and, according to Edwards, providing additional motivation to the young star.
Clippers fans at the Intuit Dome booed James and Doncic every time they touched the ball, turning the evening into a typical rivalry atmosphere.
All-Star Weekend will remain in the Western Conference in 2027, when Phoenix will host for the fourth time.
With a more competitive format and a new generation of rising stars, the NBA seems to have finally found a way to bring back the sparkle and excitement of its most spectacular weekend. /Telegraph/
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