INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Moments after De’Aaron Fox’s buzzer-beating, left-corner 3-pointer gave the Stripes a 42-40 victory over the Stars in Game 2 of the new All-Star Game, a sweat-soaked LeBron James neatly summed up his most important takeaways from a back-and-forth battle with a younger generation.
“Old man, 1-0,” James grinned.
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In short, these four words spoken by the greatest player of this generation are powerful. It wasn’t a sign – the Stars lifted the trophy after a convincing 47-21 win in the final – but simply a demonstration of what the level of competition meant. For all the talk surrounding All-Star Weekend and the lack of excitement — from social media to national TV shows and podcasts, regardless of the gimmicks, format changes and incentives, the question and answer are always the same thing: the players.
Anthony Edwards won the Most Valuable Player Award during the 2026 All-Star Game. (Photo: Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images)
(Anadolu, Getty Images)
Yes, these players endure an absolutely grueling schedule for several months of the year that pushes their bodies and minds to the limit. Yes, everyone deserves a break once in a while. But in an era where effort and expectations are thought to be at an all-time low, there’s a lot to be gained by actually giving it a try and letting go of the passive, dull idea of playing football. The NBA’s top players get to this level because they are better than the rest of the players on the floor – fiercer, smarter, faster, stronger, more competitive. What better way to demonstrate this than among your peers?
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“I don’t think they’re going to really buy into what I’m saying, but I like the format,” said All-Star MVP Anthony Edwards, who received 10 of 14 votes. “I thought it made us competitive because it was only 12 minutes and three different teams separated guys. I thought it was really good… I thought the old guys worked hard as well. They defended really well.”
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For basketball purists and casual fans alike, Sunday afternoons offer the best of what the NBA has to offer. Players intercept opponents at the point of attack and display real defensive intensity both with and without the ball. Edwards ripped apart defenders like a hyena dissolving a corpse, directly attacking James and Kevin Durant. Victor Wembanyama had an insatiable thirst for victory and was visibly frustrated by missed rotations, less-than-ideal shot selection and defeat. Jaylen Brown expressed his desire for a one-on-one championship, inviting anyone brave enough to step up and challenge. And there’s Kawhi Leonard, who brought a phenomenal belt to young wannabes and the international elite, reminding the world in front of his home crowd that he’s still one of the best. Sunday is special.
“It’s awesome,” Leonard said. “It’s great that Adam (Silver) put me in there. That’s what the home fans want to see. I’m glad I was able to do something in that game. … It’s always fun to go out and compete against those guys and cherish being on the field with them. They’re legends and they play great.”
Moving the conversation forward and seeing the likes of Edwards and Wembunyama step up their game on one of basketball’s biggest stages as ambassadors of basketball is vital to the future of the sport. As a side note on the futures of LeBron, Durant and Curry, one of the topics discussed over the weekend was the crowning of the league’s face. Edwards and Wembunyama both offer different strengths in terms of league dynamics, but overall, they represent the best the NBA has to offer. At Wembanyama, people are reminded of the beauty of being different and the growth that comes with that awareness. In Edwards, have the courage to be yourself and discover your true power and influence. All in all, the next generation’s secret to leading the league is clear.
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“Of course, it has to be a natural thing,” Wembanyama said. “Obviously, social media, the NBA can promote whoever they want. But at the end of the day, it’s going to be the best players and who people want. As the face of the league, it can be manufactured, but only to a certain extent. It’s just going to be the best players. That’s what it’s all about.”
The NBA finds itself caught in a very real storm, with illegal sports gambling, alleged financial misconduct and trouble at the top of the list. But if Sunday was a microcosm of the eye of the storm, it would be stunning. The blend of fiery young people and aging stars who are still bringing us the glory is why people are spending tons of money and coming out in droves. Maybe seeing the success of the All-Star Game will inspire some of the most prolific dunkers to rethink their lack of interest in competing. Maybe watching Mrs. Lillard lift the trophy will force a great shooter like Stephen Curry to find his love for the game again.
“It feels good,” Durant said. “Hopefully we can build on that and make the weekend more and more competitive and the fans start to enjoy it more and more.”