The 2026 NBA All-Star Tournament was an Atlanta takeover.
Jalen Johnson, the hometown team's star forward, earned his first career All-Star nod. The decision to include him was a no-brainer, as Johnson soared into stardom as the season progressed. Hawks fans knew they were in for a treat, whether their first-timer saw reasonable minutes or not.
What they didn't expect, however, were trade rumors. Yes, trade rumors. The deadline has passed, but that hasn't stopped Atlanta from being involved in a rumor that simply came out of left field. General Manager Onsi Saleh can't seem to escape the in-season speculation.
Well, buckle up, because the next few summers could get interesting. Anthony Edwards, a four-time NBA All-Star and native of Atlanta, clearly wants to come home. Playing alongside Jalen Johnson for three mini-games may have been all he needed.
In the games they played together, they looked unstoppable. In the first matchup, Johnson connected with Edwards on an alley-oop, something that Johnson revealed was planned by the two beforehand.
They finished the tournament with a 2-1 record as a duo, bringing home the 2026 NBA All-Star Championship for Team USA Stars. Edwards was the recipient of the All-Star MVP, an award that was well-deserved for his stellar play on both ends.
The on-court dominance wasn't even the biggest story of the night...
Players repping the cities they're from isn't uncommon. Even on the biggest stages, the brightest of stars will make sure they give credit to their hometown. Edwards is no different. Any chance he's gotten in his young career, he's reminded everyone of his ties to Atlanta.
Well, that was what ended up defining his remarkable All-Star Tournament performance. From the jump, Edwards was showing love to the city that raised him. When he was introduced to the crowd pre-game, he turned his backward Braves hat forward and pointed to the Atlanta logo.
The league knew what they were doing with the rosters, too. Pairing Anthony Edwards with Jalen Johnson was always going to spark conversation, and it certainly did Sunday night. What really got fans talking was what went down after the game.
In a clip posted by the Atlanta Hawks, Edwards was chatting it up with Johnson after securing the All-Star Tournament Championship. As their conversation continued, Edwards covered his mouth and appeared to tell Johnson, "I can't wait to come home."
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— Zach Langley (@ZachLangleyNBA) February 15, 2026
He proceeded to mention Atlanta's impressive young wing room and specifically pointed out Jonathan Kuminga. It appears that Edwards is quite fond of what the Hawks have got brewing, and as soon as he gets a chance to head home, he might just do it.
Come home, Ant. The city's waiting.