James shows respect to Edwards following ASG brilliance

Team USA Stars guard Anthony Edwards (left) of the Minnesota Timberwolves poses with Kia Vice President of Marketing Russell Wager after winning MVP in the 75th NBA All-Star Game at Intuit Dome. Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

LeBron James shows major respect to Anthony Edwards following All-Star Game brilliance

By Yagya Bhargava | Last updated Feb 16, 2026 9:02 AM ET

Anthony Edwards showed up to the 2026 NBA All-Star Game like he had a point to make. The updated format brought more structure and competition to the weekend, and the Minnesota Timberwolves guard embraced that from the jump.

He attacked, he defended and by the end of the night, he was walking away with MVP honors after Team USA Stars beat Team Stripes in the championship round at Intuit Dome in Inglewood, Calif.

Edwards put up 32 points across three contests, but it was not just the production that stood out. The new All-Star setup seemed to bring out more pride across the board, and Edwards fit that mood better than anyone.

LeBron James praises Anthony Edwards

LeBron James was not shy about saying so after the game. The Los Angeles Lakers forward was asked about Edwards following Team Stars' win, and he spoke his mind.

"Love Ant-Man. Everything about him. On the court, off the court. Happy for him, first of many All-Star MVPs for him. I love Ant, he's got a fan in me and a friend in me for life."

"I love Antman. Everything about him."@KingJames sounds off on @anthonyedwards following his @Kia All-Star MVP performance! pic.twitter.com/TiWvWsKTIN
— NBA (@NBA) February 16, 2026

That's not a standard postgame line. James went further than a polite nod, and the way he put it felt deliberate. Saying "for life" is not something you throw out casually.

All the more, Edwards does not treat these games like exhibitions. There is a competitive edge to how he carries himself on this stage, and that approach has become a big part of his appeal around the league.

There's a broader shift happening in the league, too. Established stars are more openly acknowledging the next wave, and James putting Edwards on that level publicly carries real weight. It was not framed around competition or rivalry. It was straight appreciation. Edwards keeps growing into one of the game's premier players, and now one of the all-time greats is saying it out loud without being pushed to.

Yagya Bhargava

Yagya Bhargava began his professional journey as a chef, but his passion for sports eventually led him into sports journalism. He started writing in 2022 and has since published more than 5,000 articles covering the NFL and NBA. Along the way, he’s worked with outlets like The Cold Wire, Sportskeeda, The SportsRush, and The Big Lead

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