Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves was named the All-Star MVP after leading Team Stars to a 47-21 victory over Team Stripes in the All-Star championship game. This is Edwards’ first All-Star MVP award and his third appearance in the All-Star game.
The first three games of the All-Star format were closely contested, each decided by a narrow margin.
In the first game, Team Stars faced Team World, with Victor Wembanyama from the San Antonio Spurs making an early impact by scoring 14 points and blocking three shots. His teammate, Karl-Anthony Towns, added 10 points. Edwards led Team Stars with 13 points, while Scottie Barnes of the Toronto Raptors hit the winning three-pointer to secure a comeback victory over his head coach, Darko Rajakovic, who was coaching Team World.
After the game, Edwards praised Wembanyama for his intensity on the court, which boosted the team’s performance.
The second game, featuring both American teams, also ended in a dramatic fashion. Jaylen Brown from the Boston Celtics was the top scorer for Team Stripes, while Edwards and Cade Cunningham from the Detroit Pistons each scored 11 points for Team Stars. De’Aaron Fox of the San Antonio Spurs made the game-winning three-pointer for Team Stars.
In the third game, Kawhi Leonard from the Los Angeles Clippers shone brightly, scoring 31 points in just 12 minutes, with an impressive shooting rate of 11-of-13. Wembanyama kept Team World competitive by scoring 19 points. Leonard sealed the victory with a three-pointer over Towns, leading Team Stripes to a championship rematch against Team Stars.
In the final game, Team Stripes appeared fatigued from their earlier matches, allowing the younger Team Stars to take a commanding 12-1 lead. Edwards and Tyrese Maxey from the Philadelphia 76ers led the way, with Maxey scoring a game-high nine points. Team Stars extended their lead to 26-9 with an Edwards three-pointer and went on a 15-0 run. Jalen Brunson from the New York Knicks and LeBron James from the Los Angeles Lakers were the only players to score for Team Stripes in the first seven minutes. Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavaliers finished with a team-high six points for Team Stripes.