Anthony Edwards picked up his first All-Star trophy Sunday night, edging out Kawhi Leonard to win the 2026 NBA All-Star Game MVP at the Intuit Dome.
Already established as one of the league’s rising stars, Edwards said the honor only adds to his motivation, and he remains focused on carrying that momentum forward to chase even bigger goals.
Anthony Edwards Sets Big Goals After Winning All-Star Game MVP
Leonard erupted for 31 points and delivered the night’s most explosive scoring burst, but it was Edwards who built the stronger overall case. The Minnesota guard poured in 32 points in just 26 minutes across the tournament, shooting 13-of-22 from the field and 6-of-15 from three-point range.
Edwards scored 13 points in the opening matchup against Team World, including a game-tying three to force overtime, and added eight more in the championship as Team Stars rolled past Team Stripes, 47-21.
The performance earned him his first All-Star MVP award and the Kobe Bryant Trophy, and it immediately shifted his focus to even bigger prizes.
“I think it takes me over the top,” Edwards said. “I think it makes me want to go get another MVP. It makes me want to go get a championship, and ain’t none of that easy, by the way. I want y’all to know, like ain’t none of that easy. It’s always gonna be hard.”
It marked Edwards’ fourth consecutive All-Star appearance, and he continues to back it up with production. Through 46 games this season, Edwards is averaging a career-high 29.3 points along with 5.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game, while shooting 49.3% from the field and 40.2% from beyond the arc.
Though he isn’t a frontrunner in the MVP race, Edwards has the Timberwolves sitting sixth in the Western Conference. After back-to-back conference championship exits, Minnesota remains a legitimate dark-horse contender, and Edwards appears determined to push them further.
With LeBron James nearing the twilight of his career and international superstars like Luka Dončić and Nikola Jokić dominating recent MVP races, Edwards has frequently been mentioned in conversations about the league’s “next face.” The 24-year-old, however, isn’t chasing that label.
“It ain’t something I’m out here shooting for,” Edwards said. “If it happens, it happens. I’m not somebody like, ‘Oh, I’m trying to be the face of the league.’ But if it happens, it happens.”
While Edwards has the résumé and personality to be part of that conversation, he remains focused on stacking wins and chasing a championship, things that will eventually elevate him to superstar status.
