On Saturday night, the Minnesota Timberwolves dropped a heartbreaker to the San Antonio Spurs, 126-123. But while the final score stung, it was Anthony Edwards who stole the spotlight with a career-high 55-point explosion - a performance that felt like a statement, even if the All-Star voters didn’t quite hear it.
Edwards has been on a tear all season, and Saturday’s outburst was just the latest chapter in what’s shaping up to be the most dominant stretch of his career. Now in his sixth year, the Timberwolves’ star guard has leveled up in every way - scoring, efficiency, leadership - and he’s doing it all while carrying a team with real playoff aspirations in the cutthroat Western Conference.
And yet, when the 2026 NBA All-Star starters were announced, Edwards’ name wasn’t among them.
Let’s break it down.
The All-Star Snub: By the Numbers
The All-Star starters are chosen through a weighted vote: 50% from fans, 25% from NBA players, and 25% from a media panel. Edwards won over both the players and the media - a clear sign of the respect he commands across the league. But in the end, it was the fan vote that tipped the scales in favor of Victor Wembanyama, who only secured the media vote yet still landed the starting nod.
That’s a tough pill to swallow when you’re putting up the kind of numbers Edwards is this season. He’s averaging a career-best 29.6 points per game, shooting an efficient 50.4% from the field and a scorching 41.8% from deep - all while defending at a high level and taking on the nightly responsibility of being Minnesota’s go-to guy in crunch time.
This isn’t just a breakout year. This is a superstar in full bloom.
Edwards Is Playing Like One of the League’s Elite
There’s no question: Anthony Edwards is operating at a top-three level in the NBA right now. He’s not just scoring - he’s doing it efficiently, confidently, and under pressure. He’s become the engine of a Timberwolves team that’s contending in a loaded Western Conference, where every night feels like a playoff game.
What makes Edwards’ rise even more compelling is the way he’s doing it. He’s not padding stats on a struggling team.
He’s elevating a legitimate contender, often putting the Wolves on his back when the moment demands it. Saturday night’s 55-point performance was just the latest example - a scoring clinic that showcased his full offensive arsenal: step-backs, drives, pull-ups, and deep threes that barely grazed the rim.
And yet, despite all that, he’ll be coming off the bench at this year’s All-Star Game.
A Chip on the Shoulder - and Fuel for the Fire
This isn’t Edwards’ first All-Star appearance - it’ll be his fourth straight - but it’s the first time he’s had a real case to be a starter and didn’t get the nod. That stings. Not because the honor defines him, but because it’s a reflection of how far he’s come and how dominant he’s been this season.
Losing the tiebreaker to Wembanyama - a rookie phenom who’s certainly deserving in his own right - is a reminder of how much fan perception still shapes these moments. Edwards did everything he could on the court.
The respect from his peers and the media was there. But in the end, popularity won out.
Knowing Edwards, though, this will only sharpen his edge. He’s always played with a swagger, a confidence that borders on defiant. Now, he’s got another reason to prove people wrong - another chip on the shoulder of a player who already plays like he’s got something to prove every night.
What Comes Next
For Minnesota, the focus remains on the bigger picture. They’ve got a star in his prime, playing the best basketball of his life, and a team that’s trending in the right direction. Edwards missing out on an All-Star start doesn’t change any of that.
But it does add a little more fire to a player who doesn’t need much to get going.
And if Saturday night was any indication, Anthony Edwards is just getting started.