LeBron James has seen just about everything in his 22 All-Star appearances, but even he couldn’t help but tip his cap to Anthony Edwards after Sunday night’s NBA All-Star Game at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood.
“Love Ant-Man. Everything about him.
On the court, off the court. Happy for him.
First of many,” James said after the game. “Also our MVPs for him.
I love Ant. He got a fan in me and a friend in me for life.”
That’s high praise from a four-time league MVP and one of the greatest to ever do it. And it’s not just lip service-Edwards earned every bit of that respect in a weekend that felt like a coming-out party on the league’s biggest midseason stage.
"I love Antman. Everything about him."@KingJames sounds off on @anthonyedwards following his @Kia All-Star MVP performance! pic.twitter.com/TiWvWsKTIN
— NBA (@NBA) February 16, 2026
After a strong showing in the round-robin portion of the revamped All-Star format, Edwards helped lead Team Stars past James’ Team Stripes in the championship round, 47-21. The Timberwolves guard finished with eight points in the final, but his impact went beyond the box score.
He was aggressive, efficient, and confident-everything you want from a rising star taking center stage. Tyrese Maxey led the scoring with nine, but it was Edwards who walked away with the Kobe Bryant Trophy as the game’s Most Valuable Player.
It was a bit of redemption for Edwards and Team Stars, who had dropped a tight one to Team Stripes earlier in the round robin, 42-40. In that game, Edwards put up 11 points on 5-of-8 shooting, adding three rebounds, an assist and a block. James had eight points, a rebound and an assist in that one, showing flashes of his usual brilliance.
But in the final, the script flipped. Team Stars found another gear offensively, and Team Stripes just couldn’t keep up. James finished with five points and four rebounds but also committed a couple of turnovers as his squad struggled to find rhythm against a surging Stars unit.
For Edwards, this weekend was more than just a collection of highlight plays-it was a statement. He didn’t just belong among the league’s elite; he stood out.
And when a player like LeBron James goes out of his way to show love, that means something. It’s a sign that Edwards’ ascent is no longer potential-it’s present.
Now, with the All-Star festivities in the rearview mirror, it’s back to business. The second half of the 2025-26 NBA season is about to tip off, and Edwards returns to Minnesota with momentum, confidence, and a little more hardware. And if Sunday night was any indication, the league’s future is in very good hands.