The NBA has switched formats, cajoled its players and tweaked the selection process to make the All-Star Game competitive. It turns out they just needed to get Victor Wembanyama fired up.
The San Antonio Spurs’ center inspired his fellow All-Stars to a hard-fought series of games in the NBA’s Team USA vs. Team World format. While Wemby’s World team lost both their games, the 22-year-old scored 33 points on 10-for-13 shooting, grabbing eight rebounds and blocking three shots.
MVP Anthony Edwards credited Victor Wembanyama for his strong effort
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards took home the MVP trophy after scoring 32 points in 26 minutes and making six three-pointers. One of those threes sent the first game of Team Stars, the USA squad with younger players, into overtime. Edwards got another bucket in the extra period, before Scottie Barnes answered Wemby’s go-ahead three-ball with a game-winning three-pointer, making it 37-35.
The intensity between Edwards and Wembanyama started with the opening tip, when the 6-foot-4 Edwards jumped center against the 7-foot-4 Wembanyama. Wemby secured the tip and immediately sprinted to the rim for a dunk in the game’s first six seconds. Wembanyama finished the first game with 14 points, whiled Edwards tallied 13.