INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) \u2014 Anthony Edwards has said it boldly and confidently for years. He intends to be the best basketball player in the world.<\/p>\n
The Minnesota Timberwolves guard got to beat the World on Sunday, thanks to the NBA All-Star Game\u2019s intriguing new format \u2014 and then he also beat a team of his fellow Americans to cap an MVP performance.<\/p>\n
Edwards led his \u201cStars\u201d team past a \u201cStripes\u201d squad featuring LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard 47-21 to win the final in this mini-tournament<\/a> comprising the entertaining main event of All-Star weekend<\/a> at the Los Angeles Clippers\u2019 Intuit Dome.<\/p>\n The NBA\u2019s fourth All-Star format in four years matched two teams of Americans against a team representing everywhere else, hoping to stoke nationalistic passion from players and fans during an Olympic year.<\/p>\n The results were solid, with three exciting mini-games in the round-robin tournament all going down to the buzzer before the blowout finale.<\/p>\n \u201cI like this format,\u201d Edwards said. \u201cI think it makes us compete because it\u2019s only 12 minutes, and the three different teams separate the guys. I think it was really good.\u201d<\/p>\n Along with the late-game theatrics, the event generally appeared to be played at a higher level of competitiveness than most All-Star Games in recent years, suggesting the league might have finally cracked the code on the long-standing question of how to make this midseason showcase more entertaining.<\/p>\n Edwards forced overtime with a clutch 3-pointer before Scottie Barnes hit a game-ending, overtime 3-pointer for his team in the opening mini-game against the World.<\/p>\n De\u2019Aaron Fox hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to win the second game for the slightly older Stripes over the slightly younger Stars.<\/p>\n Leonard then thrilled his home crowd with a 31-point barrage for the Stripes in the final round-robin game, including a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 3.5 seconds left.<\/p>\n The Stripes appeared to be gassed in the finale, but Edwards and his teammates didn\u2019t let up.<\/p>\n When asked to identify his most satisfying moment Sunday, Edwards replied: \u201cProbably beating the World team.\u201d<\/p>\n Why?<\/p>\n \u201cBecause they say they\u2019re the best players in the world,\u201d he replied. \u201cSo beating them is the best feeling in the world.\u201d<\/p>\n Already a four-time All-Star at 24 years old, the six-year NBA veteran has been on the world stage before, winning an Olympic gold medal two years ago in Paris. He has also led the Wolves to the Western Conference finals in two straight seasons.<\/p>\n Edwards claimed his first All-Star MVP trophy \u2014 an award named for Kobe Bryant \u2014 with that tying 3-pointer to cap a 13-point effort in the first game, an 11-point performance in the second, and eight points in the anticlimactic final.<\/p>\n The Inglewood crowd included former President Barack Obama, who received a standing ovation pregame \u2014 and even motivated Edwards\u2019 performance.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s my favorite person in the world,\u201d Edwards said. \u201cWe were kicking it (Saturday). Me and him had a great time. I told him I was going to put on a show for him.\u201d<\/p>\n NBA Commissioner Adam Silver thanked the All-Stars for playing hard when he presented the championship trophy to the Stars.<\/p>\n Victor Wembanyama effectively challenged his fellow All-Stars<\/a> to take this game seriously, and they largely appeared to do it. Despite going 0-2, Wembanyama led the World team in scoring in both games with 14 points in the opener and 19 in the third game.<\/p>\n \u201cIt felt good to be out there with greats, new and old, and even international guys, too,\u201d Kevin Durant said. \u201cHopefully we just build upon this and the weekend becomes more and more competitive.\u201d<\/p>\n The World team was loaded with talent, but went 0-2 after NBA scoring leader Luka Doncic and three-time MVP Nikola Jokic both sat out the second game, likely to preserve the health of two superstars who have struggled with injury in the past month. Giannis Antetokounmpo also didn\u2019t suit up at all.<\/p>\n First game<\/p>\n Barnes\u2019 3-pointer in overtime pushed the Stars past the World 37-36.<\/p>\n Edwards forced OT on a 3-pointer with 13.3 seconds left in regulation, and he hit a 14-footer to begin the first-to-five-points overtime period. Wembanyama made a 3-pointer, but Raptors star Barnes ended it by draining his only shot of the game.<\/p>\n Second game<\/p>\n Donovan Mitchell took a pass under the net from James and kicked it out to Fox on the perimeter for the winner.<\/p>\n