The first ever U.S. vs. World NBA All-Star Game is in the books. Thought it wasn’t a standard 48-minute game between two teams, there were improved effort levels and a higher competition level than previous All-Star Games. Four 12-minute games highlighted the event, as Team World lost their two appearances. Both the Stars and Stripes went 2-1 apiece, but the former won the game that mattered most. The Stars easily cruised past the Stripes 47-21 in the championship game, with the latter team playing the final three games having possibly played a factor in their sudden inability to score. The Stars, who didn’t play in Game 3, looked the far more fresher of the two and used that to their advantage. Let’s analyze the event in Los Angeles further with winners and losers: MORE NBA COVERAGE NBA 5 hours ago NBA's effort to stop tanking is ‘not working,' Adam Silver says NBA Feb 14 Here are the winners from the 2026 NBA All-Star Saturday events NBA 23 hours ago Mac McClung shares dunks he would've done at 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend WINNER: Anthony Edwards, Timberwolves Before the action started, Edwards said he wanted to prove those who believed Team World was better than the U.S. wrong. From the get-go, the Minnesota Timberwolves star came out with energy and hunger, rivaling that of San Antonio Spurs center Victor Wembanyama. Edwards eventually got the last laugh and won the All-Star Game MVP award for his performances, which included eight points, four rebounds and two assists in the championship game. Spectators wanted to see more effort from stars. Edwards brought it. LOSER: Team World’s record A team featuring Wembanyama, Nikola Jokic, Luka Doncic, Karl-Anthony Towns and Jamal Murray, among others, did not win a single game. Of course, they only participated in two and both were close. Giannis Antetokounmpo and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander also missed out due to injuries. But one could argue they should’ve at least done more given the quality across the board. Based on Wembanyama’s reactions, he won’t want that next season should the format return. WINNER: Kawhi Leonard, Clippers The Stripes ultimately didn’t win, but LA Clippers star Leonard provided some of the best quality on the day. In the 48-45 win over Team World, Leonard accounted for 31 of his team’s points on a red-hot 11 of 13 shooting from the field. The Stripes had trailed early and could’ve been in danger of getting eliminated, but the hometown man came to the rescue. The momentum didn’t carry over to the final, but the memories did. LOSER: Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic Most of Team World’s downfalls came down to the lack of two quality players not playing. Denver Nuggets star Jokic and Los Angeles Lakers star Doncic only played five minutes each in the first game, then never touched the floor again. They both have recently returned from injuries, but this would’ve been a chance to get some reps and minutes under their belt for the regular-season games that lie ahead. It was the opposite of the effort Wembanyama and Edwards displayed. WINNER: Youth movement Analysis of the three All-Star teams, especially the two U.S. ones, made something stand out. The Stripes were more veteran based with long-term stars, while the Stars featured a mix of present and rising stars. It’s ultimately a pretty good look for the league that the young “Stars” won it all, with Edwards, Tyrese Maxey, Chet Holmgren, Scottie Barnes, Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren and more doing their parts. LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Leonard and Co. won’t be around for many more years before they hang up the sneakers. It’s imperative to build on the young guys while the faces are still here to make the transition easier. The NBA will hope for a positive step forward in that regard. This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser. ...read more read less