INGLEWOOD, Calif. — After the primary contest of the 2026 NBA All-Star Sport — which featured a model new format with two USA groups and one World workforce — ended, Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards was requested by the NBC broadcast about wanting the ball on the primary possession of additional time. Edwards did not immediately reply the query, however his response was telling.
Edwards admitted that Victor Wembanyama “set the tone,” and it was onerous to not match his vitality. It was a stark distinction to Edwards’ feedback on the eve of the NBA All-Star Sport, when he immediately stated “no” when requested if the depth from the Olympics in 2024 may carry over to this format.
Edwards had each cause — like most NBA followers in attendance and watching at house — to be skeptical. In spite of everything, there have been extra lowlights from the precise All-Star Sport itself than highlights lately. It is clear the gamers agree the format was successful, and NBA commissioner Adam Silver ought to be hand-delivering thank-you notes to Wembanyama for serving to make it occur.
“He set the tone,” Edwards stated postgame about Wembanyama. “It was undoubtedly aggressive with all three groups. I really feel just like the outdated heads performed onerous, too. They had been taking part in actual good protection. However yeah, he set the tone, man. It woke me up for positive.”
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Edwards had an All-Star Sport to recollect. He scored eight factors within the closing sport towards the USA Stripes workforce and was named All-Star Sport MVP. Edwards finest exhibiting of the sport got here in that opening sport towards Staff World, when he dropped 13 factors in an additional time victory.
The ultimate sport of All-Star Weekend turned out to be anticlimactic, however the different three video games had been entertaining, aggressive and intense. Take it from Knicks star Jalen Brunson. What Wembanyama did wasn’t simply felt by one participant.
“I believe Wemby’s a pacesetter,” Brunson stated. “The best way he carries himself is implausible for this sport. I believe he is executed an excellent job and also you see what his influence is on and off the court docket round this sport.”
Regardless of being in simply his third yr within the league, Wembanyama’s influence is already being felt all through the league. Final yr’s All-Star Sport was principally a sleep fest, however the brand new format injected new life into the occasion.
“It is the sport we love,” Wembanyama stated. “It is the sport I personally cherish. Being aggressive is the least I can do.”
The format of getting every workforce play one another as soon as in a 12-minute quarter setting actually introduced extra juice than regular. Clippers star Kawhi Leonard dropped 31 factors to assist Staff Stripes advance in a sport towards Staff World. Spurs guard De’Aaron Fox knocked down a 3-pointer on the buzzer simply seconds after Edwards hit a clutch shot of his personal to assist the USA Stripes workforce win its opening sport. All groups really performed protection.
Followers at house may’ve been confused by the format, and for good cause. Even gamers had been making an attempt to determine the foundations as the sport was occurring, which is why Leonard pitched afterward for the normal East vs. West format to return.
“I believe it was good,” Leonard stated. “I did not actually determine it out till we acquired right here. As the sport was happening, making an attempt to determine the data. … I believed it was good, however I nonetheless suppose going again to East vs. West will probably be nice and I believe guys will compete nonetheless.”
Love or hate the brand new format, it would simply be right here to remain. Nonetheless, the brand new format was a breath of contemporary air for all events concerned. All-Star Saturday Night time — one of many premier occasions on the NBA calendar — may’ve been a wash, however the All-Star Sport itself made up for it.
“It was a step up within the aggressive division in comparison with final season,” Rockets star Kevin Durant stated.
