Category: NBA

The headline moment of All-Star Weekend didn’t come from a dunk, a logo three, or the league’s new tournament format. It came when Stephen Curry stepped onto the floor wearing Klay Thompson’s signature shoes.

Silver, sparkling KT 11s, customized to celebrate the four championships they won together. Title years etched into the design. A nod to Klay scoring 37 points in a quarter, still the all-time record, stamped on the back. A tribute shining under arena lights before a single shot went up. And the timing made it even more meaningful. Just days earlier, Thompson had signed a lifetime deal with ANTA, one of the rarest honors in basketball sneaker history. Curry didn’t just congratulate his former teammate privately. He showed up on the biggest stage of the weekend wearing Klay’s shoes.

Steph Curry is rocking a special edition of the ANTA KT 11, celebrating Klay Thompson’s lifetime deal with ANTA.

Once a splash bro, always a splash bro 🥹 pic.twitter.com/03JbJAu392

— Complex Sneakers (@ComplexSneakers) February 16, 2026

For a player as brand-aligned as Curry, whose Under Armour partnership helped build an entire signature empire, switching shoes, even briefly, isn’t something that happens without some thought. This wasn’t a sponsorship obligation or rollout strategy. It was Curry giving flowers in real time.

And it doubled as a homecoming moment. The game took place in Los Angeles, where Klay grew up and first built his basketball identity before becoming a Warrior and eventually a four-time champion. So while Thompson may not have been on the floor as an All-Star, his presence still found its way onto the court through the teammate who shared every major chapter of that journey.

Klay’s lifetime deal itself tells the story of a career built differently. Back in 2015, while most stars chased Nike or Adidas contracts, Thompson partnered with ANTA and quietly built one of the most successful basketball brands in Asia. Over twelve years, he’s sold more than ten million pairs across eleven signature models, turning “China Klay” from internet joke into genuine cultural icon through tours, clinics, and real connection with fans.

BREAKING: Klay Thompson has signed a Lifetime Deal with ANTA. 📄✍️

After selling more than 10 Million “KT” sneakers during their 12-year long partnership to date, Thompson & ANTA are now locked in to a new long-term legacy deal that will extend beyond his playing career. pic.twitter.com/a6x13UHTZA

— Nick DePaula (@NickDePaula) February 13, 2026

Lifetime sneaker contracts are reserved for a tiny circle: Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Dwyane Wade, Damian Lillard. Now Klay Thompson joins that list, proof his global impact goes far beyond whatever his current box scores read in Dallas. They built a dynasty together, taking four rings and inspiring an entire generation along the way.

The Splash Brothers redefined basketball’s geometry. And in the middle of All-Star Weekend, Curry let Klay’s shoes shine. A quiet thank-you from one legend to another, proof that some bonds don’t fade when teammates go separate ways.

Klay appreciates Steph rockin’ his KT11 ANTA shoes 🤝

[via @KlayThompson IG] pic.twitter.com/VekbxWTCob

— Warriors on NBCS (@NBCSWarriors) February 15, 2026

Anthony Edwards was named Most Valuable Player of the NBA All-Star Game as the USA Stars beat the USA Stripes 47-21.

The Minnesota Timberwolves guard scored 32 points and added nine rebounds and three assists to claim the Kobe Bryant Trophy.

In the 75th edition of the NBA All-Star Game there was a change from the traditional Eastern Conference against Western Conference format.

A new round-robin tournament consisted of four 12-minute games between two sides from the United States - one filled with young players and the other with veteran stars - and one group of international players.

Edwards, 24, along with Oklahoma City Thunder's Chet Holmgren, each scored eight points as the Stars dominated the championship game while team-mate Tyrese Maxey of the Philadelphia 76ers scored nine.

"It means a lot," Edwards said of his MVP award. "I love Minnesota, and I know Minnesota loves me. I said I wasn't going to put on a show for them but I gave them a show."

The Stripes missed their first 10 shots in the final as the younger Stars team raced into a 12-1 lead. The Stars later added a 15-0 run for a 33-9 advantage as the veterans were well beaten.

NBA all-time scoring leader LeBron James, 41, who was making his 22nd appearance in the All-Star Game, added five for the Stripes.

In the round-robin opener at Los Angeles Clippers' Intuit Dome, Edwards scored 13 points as the USA Stars beat the World team 37-35.

Yet he was afterwards keen to highlight the performance of San Antonio Spurs' Victor Wembanyama, with the Frenchman producing 14 points, six rebounds and three blocks in his side's defeat.

"I ain't going to lie, Wemby set the tone," said Edwards. "He came out hard and we had to follow that. We had to pick it up and we did that."

The World team were without injured stars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander while Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic combined for only two points, two rebounds and two assists.

They lost the third game 48-45 to the Stripes, meaning they were eliminated and the final would be a repeat of the second game, which the Stripes had won 42-40.

The new format was seen as a success after criticism of recent editions being lacklustre.

Former US President Barack Obama, who was courtside, said: "I know a lot of people have been concerned about the All-Star Game, not seeing as much effort. But we saw it."

Anthony Edwards walked into the 2026 NBA All-Star Game knowing he’d lost the starter vote to a 37-year-old with a bad knee. He walked out with the Kobe Bryant Trophy as MVP, having scored 32 points across three mini-games in a performance that announced what everyone already suspected: the future is here, and it’s not waiting for permission.

Edwards put up 13-of-22 shooting with six threes made, playing 26 minutes of basketball that mattered in ways All-Star Games rarely do. The new tournament format created real stakes, and Edwards responded like someone who’s been preparing for this spotlight his entire life. When Victor Wembanyama set an early tone with 14 first-game points, Edwards didn’t shrink. He matched the energy, then surpassed it when the championship game demanded a closer.

But here’s what makes this story fascinating: Edwards earned that MVP trophy while playing in a spot many outside of Dub Nation assumed should’ve been his from the start. Stephen Curry, at 37 years old, beat out a 24-year-old having what many considered a superior statistical season?

Then came the cruel irony: runner’s knee kept Curry from playing the game he’d earned. A former All-Star MVP himself, there’s no replacing what Curry brings to the festivities. Instead, we got Edwards seizing the opportunity with both hands. The parallel to last year’s second-round playoff series feels unavoidable. When Curry’s injury opened the door in that Western Conference matchup, Edwards and Minnesota didn’t just walk through it, they kicked it down. The Timberwolves earned that series win through superior depth and defensive versatility. Curry’s absence was the opportunity, but Edwards’s performance was the reason.

This is the inflection point we’re watching in real time. One generation hasn’t fully ceded power, but the next generation is already taking what it can reach. Curry still commands All-Star starter votes because over a decade-and-a-half of revolutionizing basketball and winning four championships creates that kind of respect. Edwards wins the MVP because when the spotlight found him, he delivered.

Edwards has his trophy. Curry used the break to heal a knee that’s been compensating for all that dynasty-level usage. And the basketball world got reminded that titles don’t transfer cleanly from one generation to the next. They overlap, compete, and coexist until time forces the question. We’re not quite there yet. The torch is being passed. It’s just happening one All-Star Game, one playoff series, one contested vote at a time.

Not only was the NBA All-Star Game’s new format an absolutely wonderful improvement, leading to competitive games for the first time in what feels like years, but the lone all-star weekend representative of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Anthony Edwards, won All-Star Game MVP.

2026 NBA All-Star Game MVP: Anthony Edwards of USA Stars.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 16, 2026

While Kawhi Leonard took over his home arena, it was Edwards’ USA Stars that won the round-robin tournament, leading to the titular hardware win.

Funny enough, the Stars lost to the Stripes in the round robin round, going 1-1 and lucking into a finals spot after the World team lost both. In those finals, it was a completely different game; however, the Stars summarily demolished the Stripes by a final score of 47-21.

No singular player dominated any statistical category, but it was Edwards who led the effort. His total of 32 points across three games led the team.

Anthony Edwards during NBA All-Star 2026:

🌟 32 PTS
🌟 8 REB
🌟 26 MIN
🌟 USA Stars championship

… and the @Kia All-Star MVP! pic.twitter.com/7gFyUajppK

— NBA (@NBA) February 16, 2026

Edwards was by no means the most impressive player tonight, as Kawhi Leonard nearly eclipsed Edwards’ point total in a single game, but it seems that the same rules that apply to Finals MVP apply to All-Star Game MVP, as Kawhi’s team fell short.

Possibly more importantly, the round robin format was a success. If tonight was any indication, this tournament-style set of games that totals the same minutes played is here to stay. After years and years of lackluster play with minimal effort, this game was different. While no one was playing physically by any means, they were certainly playing hard.

“I think they ain’t really going to take in what I’m saying, but I like this format,” said Ant. “I think it makes us compete because it’s only 12 minutes, and the three different teams separate the guys.”

Additionally, All-Star Weekend is known to be rife with some legal tampering under the guise of building friendships, and Edwards was left on a team with a bunch of young stars whom he could recruit to Minnesota. From backcourt pairings in Tyrese Maxey or Cade Cunningham to Julius Randle replacements in Scottie Barnes or Jalen Johnson, there are so many options for fans to fixate on.

The primary reason for Edwards’ crowning was one that Wolves fans know well: late-game heroics. The first matchup of the night against Team World went into overtime at a 32-32 tie before Ant took over to win the first-to-five tie-breaker.

In the second game, it was once again Edwards leading the charge, as his 11 points represented more than a quarter of the team’s total as they fell to the aforementioned Stripes.

Funny enough, it was Kawhi Leonard’s 31-point performance that eliminated the World team when the Stripes were already locked into a final spot that allowed for this picture:

alright

this is the photo of the night pic.twitter.com/ifgPjGpuUk

— Jonah (@Huncho_Jman) February 16, 2026

There’s so much to be said about how Ant got to this point. Drafted while being likened to Dion Waiters and JR Smith, he became a terror going at the rim, slowly took the reins from former Timberwolf Karl-Anthony Towns, and then did the impossible (even if Twitter claims it is a linear part of development) and became one of the best shooters in the league.

Maybe it’s ridiculous to wax poetic about an All-Star Game MVP when that accolade means about as much as Nickelodeon’s NVP, but it’s also a moment to take a look back.

Close your eyes and think about who Ant is for a moment. I think back to the dunk over Yuta Wantanabe as the first moment where I thought “wow, this guy is fun.” I think back to the game against the Suns at the end of his rookie year as the first time I thought “wow, this guy is good.” I think back to the first round series against the Denver Nuggets as the first time I thought, “Wow, this guy may be very good.”

I hope we one day reach a point where I can say, “Wow, this guy may just win us a title.” Tonight was not a step to that by any means, but it brought me back to those moments.

Who would’ve thought we’d get here?

I wouldn’t have.

Tonight wasn’t anything special. You know what it was? Fun. Edwards is the MVP of the NBA’s least important game. Who cares about its importance?

Goodnight Wolves fans. Go to bed smiling.

There’s no turning off Victor Wembanyama’s competitive juices — even in the All-Star Game. 

Wembanyama was captured on the NBC broadcast of Sunday’s All-Star Game festivities visibly upset after Scottie Barnes drilled the game-winning shot for Team Stars at the Intuit Dome.

Barnes shot a game-winning 3-pointer to hand the U.S. squad a win in the new All-Star Game format, USA vs. World, which appeared to be a positive step for the NBA as it has been searching for a more competitive ASG format. 

Wembanyama embodied a much more competitive All-Star Game, which saw him raise his hands in frustration after Barnes’ shot went through the hoop. A defensive breakdown by Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns and his World squad left Barnes wide open, with Team Stars needing a 3-pointer to win the game in overtime.

“It was our second time allowing a 3 when we shouldn’t have in the game,” Wembanyama told reporters about the moment. “It’s really one quarter. I mean I would have expected us to be smarter right here, so it was disappointing. … It’s a game we love. It’s a game I personally cherish, so being competitive is the least I can do.” 

Victor Wembanyama was furious they lost —

Love the intensity.

(h/t @BradeauxNBA)

pic.twitter.com/3Qo8QQs6UEhttps://t.co/2876flcYaw

— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) February 15, 2026

Wembanyama finished the game against Team Stars with 14 points on 4-of-5 shooting from the field and 2-of-2 from 3-point range, but it wasn’t enough.

“When we’re up three, not giving up a 3-pointer to tie the game,” Norman Powell said afterward about the closing sequence. It’s gonna be the attention to detail, it’s on defense, if we’re gonna compete on every single possession.”

The Spurs’ star’s competitiveness was praised by his fellow All-Stars, with Anthony Edwards telling reporters that Wembanyama had “set the tone.” 

“It was definitely competitive with all three teams. I feel like the old heads played hard, too. They were playing real good defense. But yeah, he set the tone, man. It woke me up for sure,” Edwards said. 

It was a feeling echoed by Knicks star Jalen Brunson. 

“I think Wemby’s a leader,” Brunson said. “The way he carries himself is fantastic for this game. I think he’s done a great job and you see what his impact is on and off the court around this game.”

Team Stars beat Team Stripes 47-21 to win the new USA vs. World All-Star Tournament championship.

Victor Wembanyama set the tone.

But his teammates came up empty.

The French superstar helped deliver what was a more competitive-than-expected slate of All-Star games.

This year’s format featured three teams of eight players — two composed of American players and one mainly of foreign-born players competing in a round-robin.

The idea was to create a reason for the players to care after years of lax effort.

In that regard, it delivered.

“It’s a game we love,” Wembanyama said. “It’s a game [I] personally cherish. Being competitive is the least I can do.”

Wembanyama’s Team World, though, lost to both the USA teams.

He missed a buzzer-beating 3-pointer that could have helped his team beat the USA Stripes and advance to the final.

“I ain’t gonna lie,” Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards said after the first game. “Wemby set the tone. He came out playing hard, so it’s hard not to match that, so s–t, that’s what happened.”

“Y’all been asking for it,” Knicks star Karl-Anthony Towns said. “Fans been asking for it, the media’s been asking for it. I feel that after today, y’all can see that the competition is there. We all brought it today in the sense of effort. I hope the fans and all y’all appreciated it.”

Wembanyama scored 33 points between Team World’s two games.

“Wemby said what he said,” Vince Carter, one of NBC’s color analysts, said. “He said, ‘I’m coming out here to play hard.’ The first three buckets, he set the tone. Off the rip, he wanted the ball, he wanted the ball in the post. … He’s coming out to play.”

Young blood ruled over the old souls, as the USA Stripes — composed of mostly longer-tenured veterans — blew out the USA Stars, composed of mostly younger All-Stars, in the final.

Edwards scored eight points and added four rebounds and two assists in the final.

He was named All-Star MVP.

“I gotta say: It’s back,” Tracy McGrady, one of NBC’s analysts, said of the effort level. “What we wanted from these guys, they gave us that back and more.”

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown disputed the City of Beverly Hills' claims after an event he hosted on the eve of the NBA All-Star Game was shut down because the city said it lacked a permit.

“I’m offended by Beverly Hills, by the statement they put out, like we applied for something and didn’t get it, and we did it anyway (and) we were insubordinate,” Brown told ESPN after the game Sunday. “I know how to follow the rules. I’m smart enough to follow the guidelines."

Hours earlier, Beverly Hills released a statement to The Boston Globe, saying it rejected a permit. The event promoting Brown’s performance brand, 741, was held at Oakley founder Jim Jannard’s home. Brown has a sponsorship deal with Oakley.

"An event permit had been applied for and denied by the City due to previous violations associated with events at the address,” the statement said. “Despite the fact that the permit was denied, organizers still chose to proceed with inviting hundreds of guests knowing that it was not allowed to occur. BHPD responded and shut down the unpermitted event.”

Brown countered to ESPN, saying: “That was not true. We didn’t need a permit because the owner of the house, that was his space. We were family friends. He opened up the festivities to us so we didn’t have to. We never applied for one."

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Anthony Edwards furthered his case to be the face of the NBA after securing the All-Star Game MVP at the Intuit Dome in Inglewood, California, on Sunday, Feb. 15.

The Minnesota Timberwolves star joined a list of ASG MVP winners that includes Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neal and LeBron James. Each of those players spent time as the face of the league.

Edwards produced 32 points during the three mini games he played in for Team Stars (USA) on Sunday.

The league introduced a new format for the All-Star Game this year with three teams, two consisting of American players and a World team that featured players with international ties, playing each other in a small tournament to determine which two teams would meet in the championship game.

Edwards has acknowledged the potential of being the face of the league, but it isn’t something he’s necessarily chasing.

"It isn’t something I’m out here shooting for, if it happens, it happens,” Edwards told NBA TV after the game. “I’m not somebody like ‘oh I’m trying to be the face of the league,’ but if it happens, it happens."

Edwards did not shy away when pointing out that some of the NBA's best players saw minimal action on Sunday.

"No shade towards Luka (Doncic) and (Nikola) Jokić, but like they are two of the best players in the league, they’re not trying to play in the All-Star Game," Edwards said during an interview on NBA TV.

ALL-STAR GAME WINNERS AND LOSERS: US vs World format is an upgrade

Nikola Jokić saw limited action, playing just over five minutes during the first game, collecting two defensive rebounds and shooting 0-for-1 from the field. He had not been listed on the Denver Nuggets’ injury report but was diagnosed with a hyperextended left knee injury in December that caused him to miss 16 games.

Luka Doncic also played just over five minutes for Team World, shooting 1-of-3 from the field (0-for-2 from the 3-point line) with two assists. Doncic suffered a left hamstring strain on Feb. 5 and missed four consecutive games for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (right calf strain) and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (abdominal strain) did not play for Team World due to injuries.

Anthony Edwards career stats

Anthony Edwards has averaged 24.5 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game in 427 NBA games played.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Anthony Edwards strengthens case as face of NBA at All-Star Game

Giannis Antetokounmpowas a trade target for the Knicks earlier this month and could still be on New York's radar but stayed with the Milwaukee Bucks through the NBA's Feb. 5 deadline.

The 2021 NBA Finals MVP addressed his status with the Bucks this weekend when he sat down with ESPN's Malika Andrews for an interview at All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles.

"As of today, I'm committed to the Milwaukee Bucks," he said. "And I'm committed to the people that I work with -- my teammates, the coaching staff, coach Doc (Rivers) and (general manager) Jon (Horst) in the front office. What I've said from the beginning of this year is that, out of my mouth and the way I've carried myself, you will never hear me say I don't want to be a Milwaukee Buck."

Antetokounmpo was asked if he feels "at odds" with being a winner and his loyalty to the Bucks, and he started off by repeatedly saying "no."

"I am a winner, and I'm extremely loyal," Antetokounmpo said. "But the only thing that I feel sometimes ... growing up, you dream, 'Oh, what if I played for the Knicks, Madison Square Garden? What if I get drafted by the Lakers and I'm teammates with Kobe (Bryant)? What if I go play for the Cavs and LeBron (James) passes me the ball?' Like, you just dream, right?

"So, it doesn't change as an adult. You turn on the TV watch OKC, watch Celtics (and think), 'How would that work?' You always dream. If there will ever be a scenario ... where I'll be a Milwaukee Buck no more, I just don't want everybody to think, like, hey, man, I quit on my team -- because it's my team, and I love them."

Antetokounmpo, 31, is averaging 28 points and 10 rebounds through 30 games of his 13th NBA season. He was named to his 10th All-Star Game but missed Sunday's action while sidelined with a calf injury.

You ever watch someone do something so well, for so long, that you forget they’re mortal? That’s Stephen Curry with a basketball in his hands at the three-point line.

And now, sitting on the sidelines at All-Star Weekend 2026 with a bum knee, he casually dropped a bombshell during his NBC interview: he’s coming back to the 3-point contest in Phoenix next year. Oh, and he wants Klay Thompson and Damian Lillard there with him.

Steph said he IS PARTICIPATING in next year's Three Point Contest 🎯🔥

He's already recruiting guys 👀

(via NBA Showtime) pic.twitter.com/VxZbrkNvIg

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 15, 2026

Curry’s relationship with the three-point contest has always been fun. He won it in 2015 with a then-record 27 points in the final round, draining 13 straight shots like he was playing warmups at an empty Oracle Arena. The next year, Klay beat him in Toronto with 27 of his own, matching Steph’s record in the ultimate Splash Brothers showdown. Then Curry came back in 2021, dropped a ridiculous 31 in the first round, and won the whole thing on his final shot. Drama. Theater. Pure Steph.

This isn’t new for Steph. The three-point contest isn’t just some side show he decided to enter for fun. It’s in his blood, woven into the fabric of who he is as a player and as a person. Picture this: 1994 NBA All-Star Weekend in Minneapolis. A six-year-old Stephen Curry, sitting courtside with his brother Seth, watching their father Dell Curry compete in the three-point shootout. Dell didn’t win that night, but that doesn’t matter. What matters is the image seared into young Steph’s brain: his dad, under the bright lights, shooting for glory in front of the world. The racks lined up, crowd buzzing, and the crisp swish of the net. That’s where the dream got planted.

But here’s the thing: Curry hasn’t touched that contest since Atlanta five years ago. And in those five years, he’s continued to rewrite the record books, continued to make shots that shouldn’t exist, continued to prove that he didn’t just change the game, he is the game now. The man is 37 years old, shooting 39.1% from three this season, and he’s still the most dangerous shooter who’s ever lived. Damian Lillard just won his third contest this past weekend, joining elite company. Curry could join that club too with one more win in Phoenix.

Think about what that would mean. Three 3-point contest titles. The all-time leader in made threes. Eight scoring titles from beyond the arc. A legacy built on redefining what’s possible from 30 feet. And he’s doing it because he watched Dame win and thought, “Yeah, I’m not done yet.”That’s hunger. That’s pride. That’s the kind of competitive fire that made him who he is.

And wanting Klay there? That’s poetry. The Splash Brothers, back where they belong, competing for a crown that they’ve owned more than any other duo in NBA history. The Warriors are the only team ever to have different players win the contest in back-to-back years. Steph in 2015, Klay in 2016. They made that event theirs. Bringing that energy back to Phoenix, with everything they’ve been through, with everything the Warriors have been through? That’s not just nostalgia. That’s a statement.

Curry was sitting there in street clothes, injured, unable to play in the All-Star Game he was voted into as a starter, and he’s already thinking about next year. Already plotting his return: imagining the racks, the money balls, the roar of the crowd when he gets hot. You think he’s washed? You think his time is up? He’s about to remind everyone exactly who he is.

Phoenix 2027. The Chef’s coming back to cook.

CARBONDALE, Ill. (AP) — Jaquan Johnson scored 24 points to lead Bradley to a 70-60 victory over Southern Illinois on Sunday.

Johnson made 9 of 18 shots with two 3-pointers for the Braves (18-9, 11-5 Missouri Valley Conference), adding seven rebounds, three assists and three steals. Alex Huibregtse hit four 3-pointers and scored 14.

Quel'Ron House finished with 26 points to pace the Salukis (12-15, 6-10). Davion Sykes added 12 points and five rebounds off the bench.

Johnson had seven points in the first half as the two teams played to a 28-all tie. Johnson had 17 points after halftime and Huibregtse added 11 to rally the Braves to the victory.

___

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Jaylen Brown is in the middle of the prime of his career, but the five-time NBA All-Star is already planning ahead for his post-basketball career in a differrent sport.

And where could that take him?

Apparently, to the octagon, Brown told reporters at NBA All-Star weekend in Los Angeles. 

Brown said that he has even talked to UFC CEO Dana White about the idea. 

“I’ve toyed with this. I’ve talked to some people,” said Brown, who has training in Muay Thai. “Maybe the post part of my career, I would love to partake in something like UFC or even boxing. I’ve talked to Dana White about some stuff. But we’ll see as things go on. We’ll see.”

Considering that Brown is 29 years old and still has plenty of basketball left in him, those UFC dreams are likely a ways off. 

The Celtics are currently the second-best team in the Eastern Conference at the All-Star break and Brown has been on a tear this season. 

With 23.9 points per game this season, Brown sits tied for third best in the league among offensive leaders, while also averaging 6.9 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game this season. 

Brown was named the 2024 NBA Finals MVP when the Celtics defeated the Mavericks in five games. 

The NBA has not been immune to some scuffles or physical play on the court, which has given Brown the chance to put a little of his combat training into use. 

“It’s kind of exciting when you get in the moment to have a little bit of controversy,” Brown said. “Sometimes it’s not even that big of a deal, but we’ve got emotional dudes, we’ve got passionate dudes about this game. Some of that stuff is going to happen. You get in between the margins, you’re throwing ‘bows. That stuff, that’s a part of the game to some degree.”

Brown was throwing a different kind of jab over the weekend — a verbal one — at the city of Beverly Hills after cops there shut down an event he was hosting during All-Star weekend.

Brown took to social media to blast the department, calling Beverly Hills “trash” and saying, “people worked hard for this how dare y’all.”

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Marta Suarez and Clara Silva both finished with 14 points to help No. 17 TCU beat No. 19 West Virginia 59-50 on Sunday night and take over the top spot in the Big 12 Conference.

TCU (23-4, 11-3), which won the regular-season and conference tournament titles last season, is tied with No. 12 Baylor, but the Horned Frogs have the tiebreaker advantage after beating the Bears 83-67 before taking care of the Mountaineers. Baylor visits TCU to close out the regular season on March 1.

TCU has won 40 straight games at Schollmaier Arena, tying No. 4 Texas for the longest active streak. West Virginia was the last team to win there, beating the Frogs 77-52 two years ago.

Suarez made 6 of 10 shots with two 3-pointers and Silva sank 7 of 12 shots with eight rebounds and two blocks. Olivia Miles pitched in with 12 points, seven rebounds and seven assists. Taylor Bigby added 10 points and four assists as the starters did all the scoring.

Gia Cooke had 18 points to top the Mountaineers (21-6, 11-4), who lost 51-50 to TCU at home in January. Sydney Shaw hit three 3-pointers and scored 12. West Virginia had won four straight and seven of eight entering play.

Cooke and Shaw sank back-to-back 3-pointers and West Virginia used an 8-0 run over the final three minutes of the first quarter to take a 14-11 lead.

Cooke had nine points by halftime and the Mountaineers again outscored the Horned Frogs 14-11 for a six-point lead.

TCU made only 1 of 8 from distance in the first half, but Hunter hit two 3-pointers in the first five minutes of the third quarter and Suarez and Bigby both sank one in a 20-2 run that put the Horned Frogs ahead 42-30. TCU made its first nine shots in the period to build a 46-39 lead heading to the fourth.

The Mountaineers cut the dificit to six on four occasions over the final 10 minutes but got no closer.

Up next

TCU: At Houston on Wednesday.

West Virginia: Hosts Oklahoma State on Saturday.

___

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INGLEWOOD, CA — The 2026 NBA All-Star Game is officially a wrap.

An entertaining showcase on Sunday, Feb. 15 resulted in a victory for Team Stars — a squad composed of mostly younger U.S.-born players — reinvigorated the event, which has faced repeated criticism over a lack of competitive play.

In the All-Star Game championship, Team Stars defeated Team Stripes, which mostly featured a collection of more experienced veterans like LeBron James of the Lakers, Kevin Durant of the Rockets and Kawhi Leonard of the Clippers.

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards won the Kobe Bryant Trophy, given to the All-Star Game's Most Valuable Player.

Here are the winners and losers from the 2026 NBA All-Star Game:

WINNERS

The new format

It wasn’t perfect, but the “U.S. vs. World” format the NBA deployed for the 2026 NBA All-Star Game was a marked improvement over previous iterations of the event. Several players said after the game that it increased motivation and incentive and it helped inject competition into an event that had desperately lacked it.

In essence, the four, 12-minute games converted each contest into its own fourth quarter, ramping up the drama, particularly inside the final minutes. The first three games were decided on the last shot, with two game-winners. The first game went into overtime.

Yet, while the format does deserve ample credit, the real champions were the players who invested their competitive energy into the exhibition.

Anthony Edwards

During All-Star media day on Saturday, Feb. 14, Edwards had more or less shrugged when asked about the lack of competitive behavior in NBA All-Star Games. Apparently, all it took was seeing a fellow future face of the league, Victor Wembanyama, going hard for him to ramp it up.

Edwards scored 32 points across the three games he played and won his first career All-Star Most Valuable Player award.

Victor Wembanyama

He was on the losing side, with Team World being eliminated before the championship game, but Wembanyama was widely seen as the catalyst to inspire more invested, competitive play. That became obvious from the start, as Wembanyama won the tip-off and then slashed to the basket, sealing off Cade Cunningham (Team Stars) for a quick dunk six seconds into the event. It generated instant attention.

“He set the tone, man, and it woke me up,” Edwards told reporters after the game. “For sure.”

Wembanyama played extremely well, scoring 33 points on 10-of-13 shooting across two games. He was also visibly upset after Team World lost the first game of the night in overtime, indicating that the league — and All-Star — is in good hands with him as a leader.

Kawhi Leonard

Playing in front of his home fans, Leonard popped off for Team Stripes in Game 3, scoring 31 of the team’s 48 points in the game — or 64.6%. Leonard drew MVP chants from the crowd and at one point scored 11 consecutive points, willing his team to win. The game-winning, stepback 3 over Karl-Anthony Towns represented his greatness in the game.

Think of it this way: scoring 31 points in an NBA game is elite. Doing it in what’s essentially a 12-minute quarter, against the world’s best players, is a singular achievement.

Adam Silver

As Silver, the NBA commissioner, has taken criticism recently over his handling of several off-court scandals and his management of the NBA All-Star Game, having the jewel of the weekend succeed is a massively positive step.

There is still work to be done, especially with the Slam Dunk Contest, but there were plenty of fans wondering if the NBA should do away entirely with the All-Star Game. If this is what fans will get, however, the move should be to continue to refine and improve the product.

“Oh, most definitely,” 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey, a member of Team Stars, told reporters when asked if the format could set the tone for future All-Star Games. “I think if you have these same type of guys in it, these guys compete.”

LOSERS

Nikola Jokić and Luka Dončić

They are two of the biggest stars in basketball, but they were the lone available players for Team World to record DNP (did-not-play) designations. Granted, both players have been dealing with injury concerns so it made sense to be cautious. But they are also notorious for loafing through All-Star Games. More than anything, however, having two players on a nine-player team sit out put an unfair burden on the Team World stars who were available.

Team Stripes runs out of gas

In what was a compelling matchup of younger domestic stars versus grizzled veterans, it was the uncs and old heads who ran out of steam. Team Stripes went brutally cold in the championship game, missing its first 8 shot attempts of the contest before starting just 3-of-16 (18.8%).

It probably didn’t help that Team Stripes had to play consecutive games with little rest.

“Yeah, we can make that excuse,” Durant joked after the game. “We can go ahead and make that excuse.”

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NBA All-Star Game 2026: New format, Edwards MVP, winners, losers