Anthony Edwards, Barack Obama
Anthony Edwards did not just show up to NBA All-Star weekend. He arrived with a mission.
The Minnesota Timberwolves guard captured All-Star MVP honors Sunday night after leading his Stars squad to a 47-21 win over the Stripes in the championship round at Intuit Dome. But the performance carried personal motivation. Edwards revealed afterward that he had made a promise to former President Barack Obama before stepping onto the court, per Yahoo.
“Yeah, for sure,” Edwards said when asked whether seeing Obama in attendance inspired him. “You always got to put on the show for him. He’s my favorite person in the world. We was kicking it yesterday. Me and him, I had a great time yesterday. So, I told him I was going to put on the show for him.”
He delivered.
Edwards drilled a game-tying three during the opening round-robin and added eight points in the final, the only matchup of the night that did not require late drama. His scoring burst helped separate the Stars early and secured his first All-Star MVP trophy.
Obama’s presence did more than add a celebrity cameo to the night in Los Angeles. Edwards said the two spent time together the day before the game, and that conversation sharpened his focus once the ball went up. After he hit the tying three in the opener, he kept attacking in the final, turning his promise into a headline moment and the MVP trophy for the Stars in this format.
Edwards Backs Up His Words on Big Stage
The night also marked the NBA’s latest attempt to refresh its midseason showcase. The league introduced a fourth format in four years, featuring American All-Stars against an international roster during an Olympic cycle. The competitive edge felt sharper.
“We chose to compete today, and we came out on top,” Edwards said, per CBS News. “I ain’t going to lie, Wemby set the tone. He came out and played hard, and we had to follow that.”
Victor Wembanyama paced the World team with 14 points in the opener and 19 in the third contest despite finishing 0-2. He welcomed the elevated intensity.
New All-Star Format Brings Higher Intensity
“It was a pretty good display of basketball,” Wembanyama said. “Better than last year, in my opinion. It was fun. I think being honest with ourselves is good. It’s a game we love, it’s a game I personally cherish, so being competitive is the least I can do.”
Commissioner Adam Silver thanked players for embracing that mindset during the trophy presentation.
The moment with Obama added another layer to Edwards’ growing résumé. Cameras previously captured their interaction during Netflix’s Court of Gold series around Team USA’s Olympic run. That exchange fueled conversations about Edwards’ confidence and personality. This time, he framed his motivation in appreciation rather than bravado.
Kawhi Leonard electrified the home crowd with 31 points in the final round-robin before scoring just once in the championship. Tyrese Maxey led the Stars with nine in the clincher. Still, the spotlight settled on Edwards.
He told Obama he would put on a show. Then he walked into All-Star weekend and made good on that word.