Last year, the NBA introduced changes to the All-Star Game format. Instead of the traditional East versus West matchup, fans watched three teams compete. The teams were Team Shaq, Team Chuck, and Team Candace. Let’s just say the experiment didn’t exactly blow everyone away.
This season, the league listened and brought back the classic East vs. West format. But even with the return, some decisions are still being made that have people talking and debating.
Former NBA Player’s Advice for Anthony Edwards
The big news lately is that Stephen Curry has once again earned his spot as one of the five Western Conference starters for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game. If we see the game will take place at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood.
This also marks Curry’s twelfth appearance at the All-Star Game overall, as he has been chosen as a starter eleven times throughout his career, and the way these starters get selected is actually pretty interesting.
It’s not just one group that is making all the decisions. Instead, it is a three-way split, with fan votes accounting for 50% of the decision, while players and media members each account for 25%.
For Lou Williams, seeing Curry named as a starter once again is something to celebrate and appreciate.
“One big thing we are missing is that a 50% fan vote is huge. Steph Curry is global. There’s no way around it. Steph Curry is global, so when you put some of this in the fans’ hands, this is what is gonna happen,” Williams said during a recent segment of ‘Run It Back’ TV.
Joining Curry in the Western Conference starting lineup are Luka Dončić, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokić, and Victor Wembanyama. On paper, it’s hard to argue against any of those names. But here’s where things get interesting. Also a bit controversial.
When those reserve names came out, people were genuinely surprised to see elite talents like Anthony Edwards and LeBron James listed as reserves rather than starters. During the same segment of his show, Williams had some advice for Edwards. He suggested that the young star should use this snub as fuel and motivation to dominate the second half of the season.
“Ant Edwards got a bad break. I hope he uses this as motivation. Obviously, he will still be a reserve. But there is a big difference between being respected as a starter and a reserve, and I hope he uses this as motivation, and he carries that in the second half of the season to make for some really good basketball to be played,” Williams added during the show.
“Steph Curry is global… Anthony Edwards got a bad break. I hope he uses this as motivation.”@TeamLou23 talks the impact of fan voting on the NBA All-Star Game starters and how he hopes it fuels Ant’s second half 📈@MichelleDBeadle | @boogiecousins | @ChandlerParsons pic.twitter.com/HJKVE1Cvc4
— Run It Back (@RunItBackFDTV) January 20, 2026
Let’s look at what Edwards has actually done this season.
He has started thirty-four games and has averaged 29.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.3 steals, and 0.8 blocks per game. He has also shot 41.8% from beyond the three-point line. Edwards has dropped at least thirty points in seventeen games this season, and he has gone for forty or more points seven times.
His efforts have helped the Minnesota Timberwolves achieve a 27-16 record. They sit in the fourth position in the Western Conference standings. Then on Jan. 17, he showed everyone exactly what he is truly capable of by scoring a career-high 55 points in a tough 126-123 loss to the San Antonio Spurs.
“They’ve got Wemby. He’s supposed to be the face of the league. So I’ve always got to get up for that one. I loved it. I wish we could have just moved everybody out the way and just checked up on me versus him,” said Edwards after that game.
When you look at those numbers and that kind of performance, it is hard to argue that Edwards doesn’t deserve a starting spot. Now the ball is in Edwards’ court. The only thing he can really do is keep playing at this elite level and prove through his actions that this snub was wrong.
