On Sunday, the NBA launched a new USA vs. World format for the 2026 All-Star Game. The round-robin tournament was set up between Team USA Stars, Team USA Stripes, and Team World.
Team Stars took a 47-21 win over Team Stripes in the championship round. The young squad featured Cade Cunningham, Tyrese Maxey, Scottie Barnes, Devin Booker, Jalen Duren, Anthony Edwards, Chet Holmgren, and Jalen Johnson.
Edwards was named the All-Star Game’s Most Valuable Player. His 32-point performance across three games earned him 10 of the 14 possible MVP votes.
Kawhi Leonard received the other four votes. Playing in the Los Angeles Clippers’ home arena, Leonard scored 31 points for Team Stripes in a 48-45 victory against Team World.
While Leonard had a standout individual performance, Edwards was the top-performing player on the winning team.
A Promising Year
This season, Edwards is averaging 29.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists over 46 games. He is currently ranked eighth on the latest edition of the NBA’s MVP Ladder.
At 24 years old, Edwards is on pace to be one of the top stars of his generation. Last month, he became the third-youngest player in NBA history to reach 10,000 career points, behind only LeBron James and Kevin Durant.
In terms of team success, the Minnesota Timberwolves hold the sixth spot in a tightly packed Western Conference. The franchise is on a 7–3 run in its past ten games.
Edwards’ surrounding cast includes the likes of Julius Randle, Rudy Gobert, Jaden McDaniels, Donte DiVincenzo, and Naz Reid. Gobert and Randle were both multi-time All-Stars within the past five years.
The Timberwolves have experienced consistent playoff success, making Western Conference Finals appearances in the past two seasons. Last year, Minnesota was defeated by the Oklahoma City Thunder in five games.
Overall, the Timberwolves appear to have found a franchise star in Edwards. Capturing the 2026 All-Star Game MVP award is a step in the right direction for the 24-year-old.
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