Sunday night was a night to remember in San Francisco. The 2025 NBA All-Star game took place at the Chase Center, the home of the Golden State Warriors. This year, the All-Star Game featured a new mini-tournament format between four teams over three games. Two semifinals and one final instead of one game between two teams. In addition, the first team to 40 points wins.
TNT broadcasters Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kenny Smith selected three teams while WNBA legend Candace Parker served as an honorary GM for the fourth team. Kenny’s Young Stars faced Chuck’s Global Stars in the first semifinal. Shaq’s OGs faced Candace’s Rising Stars in the second semifinal. The two winners would face off.
2025 NBA All-Star Game Recap
The 2025 NBA All-Star Game consisted of three games between four teams of eight players. Sports Illustrated reported that the total prize pool was $1.8 million. Each player from the winning team earned $125,000. Each player from the second-place team received $50,000. Each player on the teams that didn’t advance to the finals took home $25,000.
Kenny’s Young Stars took on Chuck’s Global Stars in the first semifinal. Smith’s lineup featured Jalen Brunson, Cade Cunningham, Anthony Edwards, Darius Garland, Tyler Herro, Jaren Jackson Jr., Evan Mobley, and Jalen Williams. Charles Barkley’s lineup spotlighted Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Nikola Jokic, Donovan Mitchell, Alperen Segun, Pascal Siakam, Karl-Anthony Towns, Victor Wembanyama, and Trae Young.
The first semifinal between Kenny’s Young Stars and Chuck’s Global Stars featured a new look. Comedian and actor Kevin Hart served as the first ever on-court emcee. He engaged with players and provided commentary. Both teams were tied 9-9 before Towns hit a 40-footer to give Chuck’s Global Stars a 17-12 lead and force a TV timeout. Gilgeous Alexander scored the final five points to help Chuck’s Global Stars to a 41-32 win.
Candace’s Rising Stars faced Shaq’s OGs in the second semifinal. Parker’s Castrol Rising Stars lineup featured Stephon Castle, Ryan Dunn, Zach Edey, Keyonte George, Trayce Jackson-Davis, Dalton Knecht, Amen Thompson, and Jalen Wells. O’Neal’s veteran-centered lineup spotlighted Jaylen Brown, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, James Harden, Kyrie Irving, LeBron James, Damian Lillard, and Jayson Tatum.
O’Neal’s lineup faced a setback 90 minutes before the scheduled start time. James announced he’d miss the NBA All-Star Game citing foot and ankle discomfort and ending his 20-year streak of NBA All-Star Game starts. James added he planned to return to Los Angeles on Sunday night, resume rehab on Monday, and hopefully be available on Wednesday as the Lakers will host the Charlotte Hornets.
The second semifinal between Candace’s Rising Stars and Shaq’s OGs was starstruck by Kyrie Irving. Irving, who made his ninth NBA All-Star appearance, gave Dallas Mavericks fans something to cheer about amid the chaos. Stephen Curry hit an early three-pointer to help Shaq’s OGs take a 7-4 lead while Damian Lillard hit a deep three for a 15-10 lead before a TV timeout. Lillard hit the game-winning three to help Shaq’s OGs to a 42-35 win.
The final between Chuck’s Global Stars and Shaq’s OGs was rather lopsided. Shaq’s OGs jumped out to an 11-0 run before Gilgeous-Alexander made one of two free throws to get on the board. Curry hit a look-away three-pointer and Jayson Tatum threw down a backdoor dunk for the game-winner in Shaq’s OGs 41-25 win. Curry was named the 2025 NBA All-Star Game MVP which led some people to think Tatum was robbed.
2025 NBA All-Star Game Format
The 2025 NBA All-Star Game’s new format of a three-game, four-team tournament was intriguing. The NBA reportedly decided to drastically change its All-Star Game format from a one-game meeting to a four-game battle to revitalize the All-Star Game’s intensity and entertainment value after the game has been criticized in recent years for its subpar level of play.
The 2025 All-Star Game drew mixed emotions from NBA players, such as Milwaukee Bucks Point Guard and Oakland, California, native Damian Lillard’s hints of uncertainty and optimism. Lillard told CBS Sports, “I mean, I think that’s probably why they put this type of format in, to [kind of] heighten that sense of pride and not wanting to be on the wrong end of that.”
Lillard continued in an apparent attempt to share his general thoughts, including the rookie-centered teams. “I mean, we’ll see. I think one thing about a team full of young players is they’re going to come out there and they’re going to play with some energy. They’re going to play fast. I think that’ll probably heighten the competition. So we’ll see.”
Game Issues
The 2025 NBA All-Star Game raised attention to issues. Not with the City of San Francisco, but with the new format. Back in December 2024, Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant told reporters, “I hate it. Absolutely hate it. Terrible. All-Star Game formats changing — all the formats — terrible, in my opinion. We should just go back to East-West and just play the game.”
At the time, Durant had just reached 30,000 career points and became the eighth player in NBA history to score 30,000. Suns star Devin Booker, who would not play in the 2025 NBA All-Star Game, shared a similar reaction. Booker once told reporters, “I’m more into the nostalgia. I agree with Kev [Kevin Durant]. I like East versus West with your own team jersey. I like the old jerseys. It’s whatever.”
