INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Anthony Edwards has never been one to shy away from the spotlight, and on Sunday night at Intuit Dome, the Minnesota Timberwolves superstar seized it with both hands. Edwards poured in 32 points across the 75th NBA All-Star Game tournament, earning the Kobe Bryant MVP award as Team Stars rolled to a commanding 47-21 victory over Team Stripes in the championship game.

The lopsided final was the exclamation point on a weekend that introduced a bold new format to the league's midseason showcase. Gone was the traditional East vs. West matchup. In its place, the NBA debuted a USA vs. World concept featuring two American squads and one international team competing in a round-robin tournament. The experiment produced compelling basketball throughout, even if both U.S. teams ultimately advanced to the final, leaving the World team on the outside looking in.

Edwards was sensational from start to finish. The 24-year-old shot 13-of-22 from the field and 6-of-15 from beyond the arc across three games, finishing with 9 rebounds and 3 assists to complement his scoring. His 59.1 percent shooting clip was a testament to his efficiency on a night when he could have simply settled for highlight-reel attempts. Instead, Edwards picked his spots with the poise of a seasoned veteran, attacking mismatches and pulling up in transition with equal confidence.

The road to the championship game was not without its drama. During the round-robin stage, Toronto Raptors forward Scottie Barnes delivered one of the weekend's most electrifying moments, draining a game-winning three-pointer that kept the tournament bracket alive with tension and unpredictability. It was the kind of moment the new format was designed to produce — meaningful stakes creating genuine excitement in a game that has sometimes struggled to hold fans' attention.

Kawhi Leonard also reminded everyone of his brilliance in one of the earlier tournament contests, erupting for 31 points on a scorching 11-of-13 from the field. The performance was a welcome sight for basketball fans who have watched Leonard battle injuries in recent seasons, his surgical mid-range game looking as lethal as ever under the bright All-Star lights.

Beyond the main event, Saturday night's skills competitions delivered their own share of history. Damian Lillard, the Portland Trail Blazers' legendary sharpshooter, captured his third career 3-Point Contest title, joining Larry Bird and Craig Hodges as the only three-time champions in the event's storied history. At 35 years old, Lillard proved that his range from deep remains unmatched, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest long-distance shooters the game has ever seen.

The Slam Dunk Contest, meanwhile, crowned an unexpected champion. Miami Heat's Keshad Johnson soared above the competition, defeating San Antonio Spurs rookie Carter Bryant in a battle of high-flyers that injected fresh energy into a contest that has been searching for new stars.

As the confetti settled at Intuit Dome, the weekend belonged to Edwards. With the Kobe Bryant MVP trophy in his hands and a dominant tournament performance on his resume, the Timberwolves guard sent a clear message to the rest of the league: the All-Star stage is his now, and he has no intention of giving it up.