{"id":606040,"date":"2026-02-16T09:23:13","date_gmt":"2026-02-16T09:23:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/606040\/"},"modified":"2026-02-16T09:23:13","modified_gmt":"2026-02-16T09:23:13","slug":"edwards-named-mvp-in-new-nba-all-star-game-format","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/606040\/","title":{"rendered":"Edwards named MVP in new NBA All-Star Game format"},"content":{"rendered":"

Anthony Edwards was named Most Valuable Player of the NBA All-Star Game as the USA Stars beat the USA Stripes 47-21.<\/p>\n

The Minnesota Timberwolves guard scored 32 points and added nine rebounds and three assists to claim the Kobe Bryant Trophy.<\/p>\n

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In the 75th edition of the NBA All-Star Game there was a change from the traditional Eastern Conference against Western Conference format.<\/p>\n

A new round-robin tournament consisted of four 12-minute games between two sides from the United States – one filled with young players and the other with veteran stars – and one group of international players.<\/p>\n

Edwards, 24, along with Oklahoma City Thunder’s Chet Holmgren, each scored eight points as the Stars dominated the championship game while team-mate Tyrese Maxey of the Philadelphia 76ers scored nine.<\/p>\n

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“It means a lot,” Edwards said of his MVP award. “I love Minnesota, and I know Minnesota loves me. I said I wasn’t going to put on a show for them but I gave them a show.”<\/p>\n

The Stripes missed their first 10 shots in the final as the younger Stars team raced into a 12-1 lead. The Stars later added a 15-0 run for a 33-9 advantage as the veterans were well beaten.<\/p>\n

NBA all-time scoring leader LeBron James, 41, who was making his 22nd appearance in the All-Star Game, added five for the Stripes.<\/p>\n

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In the round-robin opener at Los Angeles Clippers’ Intuit Dome, Edwards scored 13 points as the USA Stars beat the World team 37-35.<\/p>\n

Yet he was afterwards keen to highlight the performance of San Antonio Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama, with the Frenchman producing 14 points, six rebounds and three blocks in his side’s defeat.<\/p>\n

“I ain’t going to lie, Wemby set the tone,” said Edwards. “He came out hard and we had to follow that. We had to pick it up and we did that.”<\/p>\n

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The World team were without injured stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander while Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic combined for only two points, two rebounds and two assists.<\/p>\n

They lost the third game 48-45 to the Stripes, meaning they were eliminated and the final would be a repeat of the second game, which the Stripes had won 42-40.<\/p>\n

The new format was seen as a success after criticism of recent editions being lacklustre.<\/p>\n

Former US President Barack Obama, who was courtside, said: “I know a lot of people have been concerned about the All-Star Game, not seeing as much effort. But we saw it.”<\/p>\n

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