This year's All-Star weekend was a pleasant surprise, with the new ASG format working surprisingly well. However, the Dunk Contest was yet again a disappointment. Recently, it was announced that NBC is pitching the idea of adding a 1-on-1 or 2-on-2 tournament to All-Star weekend.
For years, fans have advocated for the addition of a 1-on-1 tournament as the Dunk Contest has declined. If this does indeed happen, the NBA will need stars to participate to make it work. Minnesota Timberwolves superstar Anthony Edwards is one of the realistic high-end players who could participate in this event, and that would be must-see TV for all fans.
Edwards won the All-Star Game MVP and was one of the primary reasons why the new format worked. He is one of the most competitive players in the league, and I'm sure he'd love the challenge of a 1-on-1 battle with other elite players. Furthermore, as a younger player, Edwards would likely be more open to playing in an event like this.
Even if it ends up being a 2-on-2 event instead, the possibility of Ant (and likely one of his teammates playing together) would be exciting.
Anthony Edwards would be perfect for a 1-on-1 tournament
During All-Star weekend, Ant was asked if he could guard Kyrie Irving, and of course, Edwards said he can -- but what made his response interesting is that he specifically said he could in a 1-on-1 setting. Maybe I'm reading too much into this, but this shows me that Ant would be open to playing in a 1-on-1 tournament.
Edwards is arguably the most confident player in the league, and likewise, he doesn't seem like he'd back down from any challenge. As such, playing in a 1-on-1 tournament feels right up his alley. It certainly helps that Edwards is one of the league's best isolation scorers.
All it takes is one star to say they'll play in an event like this, and others would be bound to follow. Much like how Victor Wembanyama set the tone for the All-Star Game, Edwards could set the tone for this 1-on-1 event to be taken seriously.
Now, would it be all of the league's best players? Probably not, some players are bound to want to avoid the embarrassment, and/or don't have playstyles that translate to a 1-on-1 setting. However, if it's all (or at least mostly) All-Star-level players, this event could really work, and undoubtedly Edwards would be a big factor.
Ant's trash-talking abilities are another reason why he could elevate this possible event. Just imagine how electric it would be to see Ant get buckets on another star and immediately taunt them as we've seen him do numerous times.
Of course, other great players could make this event successful. Regardless, Edwards is one of the league's most exciting players, and he could be a primary reason that this event thrives. I think all fans are hoping to see this event become a reality with Edwards at the center of it next All-Star weekend.