Team Stars emerged victorious at the 2026 NBA All-Star Game round-robin tournament, taking down Team Stripes and Team World. The majority of the squad featured young talents from the United States.
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards had a memorable performance for Team Stars. Edwards scored 32 points across three games, earning All-Star Game MVP honors.
After the All-Star Game, Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James shared his thoughts on Edwards.
“I love Antman. Everything about him. On the court, off the court. Happy for him. First of many All-Star MVPs for him. I love Ant. He’s got a fan in me and a friend in me for life.”
Edwards and James were teammates during the United States' gold medal campaign at the 2024 Paris Olympics. It was likely the final Olympic appearance for the 22-time All-Star.
On Sunday, the 41-year-old James was a member of Team Stripes in the USA vs. World round-robin tournament. He scored five points in the championship round.
Edwards was drafted by the Timberwolves with the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. He quickly became a top contributor for the franchise.
This season, Edwards is averaging 29.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 3.7 assists over 46 games. He is ranked eighth on the most recent edition of the NBA's MVP Ladder.
In terms of team success, Edwards led the Timberwolves to two consecutive Western Conference Finals appearances. Minnesota fell short to the Dallas Mavericks in 2024 and the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2025.
With a 34-22 record, the Timberwolves hold the sixth spot in the Western Conference standings. The team is on track to make another trip to the playoffs.
Edwards' Timberwolves teammates include Julius Randle, Rudy Gobert, Jaden McDaniels, Donte DiVincenzo, and Naz Reid. Gobert and Randle were both multi-time All-Stars this decade.
At 24 years old, Edwards is getting closer to veteran status in the locker room. The endorsement from James suggests that Edwards could be one of the top players of his generation.
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