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Dave McMenamin
Multiple Authors
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards credited two factors for the improved NBA All-Star Game on Sunday: the format’s change and Victor Wembanyama’s charge.
Edwards’ MVP performance — 32 points on 13-for-22 shooting with nine rebounds and three assists to edge Kawhi Leonard, who had a strong bid for the award in his home arena — didn’t hurt either.
“[Wembanyama] set the tone, and it was definitely competitive with all three teams,” Edwards said. “He set the tone, man. And it woke me up, for sure.”
Rather than the traditional Eastern Conference vs. Western Conference rosters for the league’s February festivities, players were split into three groups: Team Stars, comprising young American standouts, such as Edwards; Team Stripes, composed of veteran American talent; and a World team, filled with players from around the globe.
Rather than four quarters, the event featured a round-robin tournament with four 12-minute games involving the three teams.
The San Antonio Spurs’ big man led the World team with 14 points, six rebounds and three blocks in the first game — a 2 p.m. PT tipoff because the NBA’s new broadcast partner, NBC, slotted it as a lead-in to Winter Olympics coverage — and Edwards kept pace with 13 points, including a tying 3 to force overtime. In the extra session — which ended with the first team to score five points — Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes hit a winning 3-pointer to lift Team Stars to a 37-35 win.
Barnes’ 3 caused Wembanyama to storm back to the bench in disbelief at his team’s failed defensive execution, the same way he would if it were his Spurs who faltered in the regular season.
“It’s a game we love — it’s a game I personally cherish — so being competitive is the least I can do,” Wembanyama said.
The second game was also tight, with Team Stripes beating Team Stars on a last-second 3 by Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox to win 42-40.
And the third game belonged to Leonard, much to the delight of the Clippers fans in attendance at the Intuit Dome.
The LA Clippers forward scored 31 points on 11-for-13 shooting (6-for-7 from 3) with three rebounds and two steals in 12 minutes to lead Team Stripes to a 48-45 win over Team World despite 19 points from Wembanyama.
“It was great; happy that Adam [Silver] let me in,” Leonard said, referring to the NBA commissioner adding him to the game as an injury replacement. “That’s what the home crowd wanted to see. I’m glad I was able to do something in that game.”
His peers were glad to see it, too.
“We were watching it … like, ‘Damn, this guy is killing,'” Barnes said of Leonard. “We were just like in awe. In shock, too. When a guy has it going like that, it’s special. That’s what the people want to see.”
Said Edwards: “I told [Leonard] when we walked out for the last game, I said, ‘Hey, you need to chill out.'”
The final game between Team Stars and Team Stripes was a blowout, with the young Americans winning 47-21.
Edwards had eight points on 3-for-5 shooting in the finale, and Leonard had one point on 0-for-4 shooting, going 1-for-2 from the free throw line.
Edwards went on to receive 10 of the 14 votes for MVP from a panel of media and fan polling.
“I think it was definitely a step up in the competitive department compared to last season,” Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant said. “Kawhi was great. Ant was great. I think we did what we’re supposed to do for the fans.”
Edwards, a 24-year-old former No. 1 pick known for his personality nearly as much as for his polished game, said he relished beating the World team to start the day more than he did beating Team Stripes to end it.
Why?
“Because they say they’re the best players in the world,” Edwards said. “So beating them is the best feeling in the world.”
Edwards said he would support using the same format for next year’s All-Star Game in Phoenix.
“I think it makes us compete because it’s only 12-minute [games], and the three different teams separate the guys,” Edwards said. “I think it was really good.”
Leonard said that now that the players proved they can bring more focus to the game, it would be OK to go back to the traditional teams.
“I still think going back to East-West will be great — I think guys will compete still,” Leonard said. “But it’s like, whatever grabs the attention of the consumer, I’m for it.”