Wembanyama's Intensity Sparks Competitive All-Star Game

Young stars like Wembanyama and Edwards bring renewed energy to NBA's marquee event.

Published on Feb. 16, 2026

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The 2026 NBA All-Star Game was saved by the impressive effort and performances of San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama and Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards. Edwards credited Wembanyama's intensity for bringing out the competitive edge in his team, as the younger American All-Stars defeated Team World 37-35. The game was seen as a revival of the All-Star event, which had previously struggled with a lack of effort from players.

Why it matters

The NBA All-Star Game is one of the league's marquee events, but in recent years it had been criticized for a lack of competitiveness and effort from players. This year's game showed that young, hungry stars like Wembanyama and Edwards can reignite the competitive spirit and provide the fans with an exciting showcase of talent.

The details

Edwards told NBC's Zora Stephenson that Wembanyama "set the tone" with his intense play, forcing the other players to match his energy. The two young stars are often referred to as the "future faces of the NBA," and their performances proved they are ready to take the league by storm. Former NBA player Muggsy Bogues had predicted that just a couple of young, zealous All-Stars would bring the necessary fire out of the rest of the league's best, and that's exactly what happened.

  • The 2026 NBA All-Star Game took place on February 16, 2026.

The players

Victor Wembanyama

A third-year center for the San Antonio Spurs, Wembanyama is considered one of the top young talents in the NBA and a future superstar.

Anthony Edwards

A rising star for the Minnesota Timberwolves, Edwards is often mentioned as one of the "future faces of the NBA" alongside Wembanyama.

Muggsy Bogues

A former NBA player who is the shortest player in league history, Bogues predicted that young, competitive All-Stars would reignite the event.

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What they’re saying

“I mean, you know, I ain't gone lie, Wemby set the tone. Like, he came out playing hard. So it's hard not to match that, so, s—, that's what happened. Sorry for my language, that's what happened though.”

— Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves Star (NBC)

“It's the players. They know it's an All-Star game. But they know when it's time to compete and give the fans exactly what they deserve … I think the message and the word is getting out. And I think some younger players understand the importance of it. And I think they're gonna put some of their—I don't know, maybe the older guys, on Front Street. Because when you're putting that type of effort and that energy out there, it resonates. And it also shows who's all in, and who's all out.”

— Muggsy Bogues, Former NBA Player (SiriusXM NBA Radio)

What’s next

The NBA will look to build on the success of this year's competitive All-Star Game, hoping to maintain the renewed energy and effort from its top players in future events.

The takeaway

The 2026 NBA All-Star Game proved that the league's young superstars like Wembanyama and Edwards have the ability to reignite the competitive spirit of the event, providing fans with an exciting showcase of talent and effort. This could be a turning point for the future of the NBA's marquee mid-season showcase.