The NBA All-Star Game has become one of the biggest pain points for Adam Silver. Amid the league’s declining viewership, the event has garnered constant criticism for lacking competitiveness and excitement. After last year’s game, many even deemed it a “Glorified Layup Line” with superstars chucking constant threes and making uncontested dunks. But veteran guard John Wall believes one young star can rescue the All-Star Game with his undeniable competitive fire. Anthony Edwards!
Addressing the issue on The Draymond Green Show, Wall revealed his expectations, “I feel like the one person, not one person can change the whole All-Star format and how they do it, but I feel like the one kid that got it is Ant-Man. I feel like he gonna find somebody if he’s starting, ‘I’m gonna find somebody I don’t like and I’m going at him.’” In an era where most players are good pals on and off the court, Edwards does not shy away from showing his competitive side and going at his opponents.
Sure enough, many veteran players have admired Ant-Man’s ‘Old School’ mindset and even deemed him the second coming of Michael Jordan because of the uncanny similarity in their playing style and mentality. “You need that type of competitiveness. That’s what you need. I feel like if he go against KD or if he go against D Book or he go against Donovan Mitchell or whoever the next two guard is, he’s trying to let them know like ‘I’m the best two guard in the league.’” Wall added.
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Wall himself is a five-time All-Star and understands the importance of the event. Although he has faith in Edwards to rescue the star-studded game, the former Wizards star thinks it might not be Ant-Man’s time to do so just yet, “I feel like he can bring that into the All-Star game but I don’t feel like he’s at the level where he get everybody to follow along. But I feel like he can get there at some point. I hope it’s soon so that the All-Star game don’t kind of go away with people just like ‘I don’t even care about it.’” Well, Ant-Man is only 23 years old and it might be too early for him to set a precedent, especially when there are more experienced stars like LeBron James and Stephen Curry participating in the event. Moreover, Edwards was not even available at this year’s event to make a case for Wall’s claim.
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Injury woes forced Anthony Edwards to miss the All-Star Game
As Kenny Smith decided to go Gen Z with his All-Star team in the new format, his first pick was Anthony Edwards. With his third selection and averaging 27.5 points, it was a great choice. But everyone was shocked when Ant-Man was not available to start Sunday’s event against Team Chuck. Turns out, he was suffering from groin soreness that ruled him out at the last minute. “My groin’s been messed up for a little minute,” Edwards remarked.
via Imago Anthony Edwards (Image Credit: IMAGN)
As per the Wolves star, he decided to sit out the prestigious event because there wasn’t enough warm-up time to test his groin issue. So, even though Wall wanted to see it, Edwards never got a chance to show his competitive side during Sunday’s event. And even if he had, it might not have made much difference because Ant-Man has said in an interview, “I’ve never been an All-Star Game type of guy to like take it serious and go out there and try to guard somebody and get a stop… I just save it for the Timberwolves season, pretty much.” Yes, like many others, Edwards considers the All-Star Weekend a break from the regular season more than a competitive environment. And that could shatter Wall’s hopes of Ant-Man rescuing the annual event.
5-Time All-Star Nominates Anthony Edwards to Save NBA’s Prestigious Event as Timberwolves Star Drops Key Health Update
