Anthony Edwards didn’t just show up to the 2026 NBA All-Star Game - he took it over. The Minnesota Timberwolves guard walked away with the Kobe Bryant Trophy on Sunday night, earning MVP honors for the first time in his young career. And while the box score from the final might not leap off the page - eight points, four rebounds, two assists - the impact went far beyond the stat sheet.
Edwards was the heartbeat of the USA Stars squad, helping lead them to a dominant 47-21 win over the Stripes in the championship game. That performance capped off a strong showing across all three contests, where he poured in a combined 32 points, including a team-high 13 in their opening 37-35 overtime win against the World team.
This wasn’t just a flashy night of dunks and highlights for Edwards - it was a statement. In a revamped All-Star format that’s been searching for a competitive edge in recent years, Edwards brought exactly that.
He played with purpose, with intensity, and most importantly, with pride. And the voters took notice: he received 10 of the 14 possible MVP votes.
The only other player to earn any consideration was Kawhi Leonard, who represented the Stripes on his home floor at the Intuit Dome.
With the win, Edwards becomes just the second player in Timberwolves history to claim All-Star MVP honors, joining franchise legend Kevin Garnett, who took home the award back in 2003. It’s another milestone in what’s shaping up to be a breakout season for the 24-year-old.
"It's a step in the right direction," Edwards told NBC’s Zora Stephenson after the game. "That's all that is. We chose to compete today, and we came out on top."
And that word - compete - is one Edwards kept coming back to. In a game that’s often been criticized in recent years for lacking intensity, Edwards gave credit to San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama for setting the tone early. The Spurs rookie brought energy on both ends, and Edwards matched it, refusing to back down from the league’s biggest names.
"I wanna cook them every time. You know that," he said, flashing the kind of confidence that’s quickly become his trademark.
That fire is translating into a monster regular season, too. Edwards is putting up career highs across the board - 29.3 points per game on 49.3% shooting from the field and a scorching 40.2% from deep. Add in 5.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.3 steals per game, and you’ve got the engine driving a Timberwolves team that’s currently sitting sixth in the West.
The All-Star MVP is just the latest accolade for the two-time All-NBA selection, but if Edwards has his way, it won’t be the last. He’s not just playing in these games anymore - he’s shaping them. And if Sunday night was any indication, he’s ready to take center stage in the NBA’s next era.