Anthony Edwards Takes ASG MVP

By    |  
Updated:
Follow Us
Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Very few All Star Game exhibitions throughout sports hold weight. The NFL has turned the Pro Bowl into a series of mini games and a flag football contest. Hockey features goalies ceding points in droves, and baseball no longer determines the World Series home field advantage.

The NBA All Star Game may be the most watered down of them all, but something felt different on Sunday night. Anthony Edwards was spurned as a starter, and he went into the new format motivated by the tone of young Spurs star Victor Wembanyama.

Not only did Edwards’ Team Stars squad win it all, but he led the way throughout the three-matchup contest as well.

MN Timberwolves star brings home his first MVP

Anthony Edwards suited up with the Team USA Stars that represented a young group of NBA talent continuing to make their mark. They knocked off Wembanyama and the World team in overtime before falling by only two points against Team Stripes the first time. Getting a second go at LeBron, Kevin Durant, and Kawhi Leonard in the championship, Edwards’ team broke out the belt.

Team Stars went on a 15-0 run and initially led the game 16-3. They punked the aging veterans and emerged victorious. With 32 points, 9 rebounds, and 3 assists across the three games, it was the Minnesota Timberwolves star that earned MVP honors.

“It’s a step in the right direction. That’s all that is. We chose to compete today and we came out on top. I ain’t gonna lie, Wemby set the tone. He came out playing hard, and we had to follow that, and we had to pick it up as a red team, and we did that.”

Anthony Edwards

When asked about Kevin Durant and LeBron James guarding him, Edwards simply said, “I wanna cook them every time, you know that.” Minnesota Timberwolves fans know how much of a competitor Edwards is, and he used an exhibition against the best in the world to show that on a national stage.

The MN Timberwolves are currently 34-22 at the break, and they sit in 6th place among the Western Conference. Anthony Edwards has taken his team to consecutive Western Conference Finals, but they have been unable to get over the hump.

Rather than add a superstar like Giannis Antentokounmpo at the trade deadline, Minnesota opted for bench scoring in the form of Ayo Donsunmu. Edwards will need to keep carrying the load and help the Timberwolves get over to that final stage.

Edwards eyeing another MVP for MN Timberwolves

It’s great that Edwards won the All Star Game MVP, but he’s certainly got eyes on something bigger. Not only would he love to win a ring, but his first season MVP would be great as well.

The four-time All Star is averaging a career-best 29.3 points per game this season. His 49.3% from the field is a career-high, and he’s hit a new best 40.2% from deep. While there are potentially more qualified candidates ahead of him, Ant is staking his claim.

Edwards was 12/1 to win All Star Game MVP honors coming into the contest. He’s currently 200/1 (8th) to win MVP honors for the season. He’s got work to do down the stretch, but if he can improve the MN Timberwolves positioning, he’ll vault himself forward too.

At 24 years old, Edwards continues his ascent towards the top of the league. Minnesota needs to win a championship with their former first overall pick, if for no other reason than he remains among the most exciting to ever step on the court.

Mentioned in this article:

More About:

0What do you think?Post a comment.

Add MinnesotaSportsFan as a preferred source on Google.Add MinnesotaSportsFan as a preferred source on Google.