Wembanyama shows out, but comes up short in All-Star Game
The NBA All-Star Game has not been great for a while. Over the last few years, the players haven’t taken it seriously, leading the league to implement bizarro changes like the Elam Ending or a round-robin tournament including the winner of the Rising Stars challenge. This year, it was a round-robin tournament with an emphasis on players from the U.S. vs. the World. The gimmick worked, leading to one of the best games in recent memory.
No gimmick alone can change the culture surrounding the game. It starts with the players, and on Sunday night, it started with one player who elevated the competition for everyone: Victor Wembanyama.
“Wemby set the tone,” said the game’s MVP, Anthony Edwards. “He came out playing hard.”
Wembanyama has talked the talk about trying hard in the All-Star Game. He backed it up with a Team World-leading performance in the opening game against “Team Stars,” which featured the younger generation of U.S. all-stars.
The San Antonio Spurs big man came out hot. He won the tip and immediately went to the other end for a dunk to kick off the game. It was the first highlight of a stellar 14-point, 6-rebound, and 3-block performance.
He followed that play up with a three, and then picked up two blocks on the other end. He was locked in playing defense, and Team World was running its offensive game through Wembanyama. A tough stretch of lazy defense and bad turnovers (ASG staples) allowed Team Stars to climb back into the game and make things competitive. In the winding seconds of the first game, Edwards hit a three-pointer to tie the game and send it to overtime.
The first team to score 5 points wins OT. Wembanyama hit a pick-and-pop three-pointer to put Team World up 3-2. Team Stars needed a three-pointer to win the game, and got one when Team World collapsed their defense, lacking the awareness to understand that a 2-pointer would keep them in the game. Scottie Barnes took advantage of the defensive mistake, knocking down a three-pointer to win the game. Wembanyama was not happy. Team Stars won 37-35.
Wembanyama wasn’t the only Spur in the All-Star Game. De’Aaron Fox replaced the injured Giannis Antetokounmpo for his second All-Star appearance. He played for Team Stripes, coached by San Antonio’s head coach, Mitch Johnson. The Stripes were made up of older players like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Kawhi Leonard.
For a while, it looked like the Stripes would run away with the game, coming out determined and playing team basketball, which is rare for the ASG. Fox didn’t check in until the four-minute mark in the 12-minute game, but closed the game out with the other starters. Johnson must have wanted his clutch gene, and the decision paid off, as Fox knocked down the game-winning three-pointer to down the Stars 42-40.
Wemby and Team World took the court to face Fox and the Stripes in the third game. The World needed to win by 3 points to move on to the championship game. Wembanyama did everything he could to get them there, but he was outmatched by a familiar face, former-Spurs Kawhi Leonard.
Wembanyama had 19 points in the game, including two clutch three-pointers down the stretch. The World team simply couldn’t overcome Leonard, who had 31 points in the game, including 11-straight points to give the Stripes the lead mid-way through the game. The game was tied with 25 seconds to go, and Leonard abused a mismatch on the switch that left Karl-Anthony Towns guarding him. He nailed the three, leaving the World team 3 seconds to tie the game. Wembanyama got an open look on a clever inbounds play, but couldn’t convert the three-pointer, eliminating Team World from the tournament with a 48-45 loss to the Stripes. Wembanyama finished the entire ASG with 33 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 blocks.
The Spurs still had a chance to come away winners, with Fox and Johnson facing off against Team Stars in the championship game. Team Stripes came out of the game slowly, looking a bit sluggish and tired against the more youthful Stars. The Stars streamrolled the older Stripes to win the ASG championship 47-21. Fox finished the event with 7 points and 3 assists.
Edwards took home the MVP trophy, scoring 32 points on the evening.
The Spurs may not have left All-Star Weekend with any hardware, but they had an entertaining showing, and more importantly, got out of Los Angeles totally healthy for the stretch run. Wembanyama may not have won any games in the All-Star tournament, but his impact on the event was noticeable to fans and players alike.
“It’s a game I personally cherish,” Wembanyama said. “So being competitive is the least I can do.”
Wembanyama and the Spurs put on a show this weekend and will likely be a staple of the events for years to come. Perhaps the event will get back to its former glory thanks to the inspiring effort by San Antonio’s franchise cornerstone.
