NBA All-Star Game 2025: New Format, Rosters, and How the League Revamped the Event

The NBA All-Star Game 2025 is set to take center stage this Sunday at San Francisco’s Chase Center, featuring a brand-new format aimed at revitalizing the midseason classic. In response to declining competitiveness and lackluster fan engagement in recent years, the league has overhauled the event, introducing a four-team mini-tournament that promises higher stakes, more excitement, and an incentive-driven approach to reignite All-Star Weekend.

Here’s everything you need to know about the new format, rosters, and why the NBA made this drastic change.

A Game-Changing Format: How the 2025 NBA All-Star Game Works

Unlike previous years, which featured a traditional East vs. West matchup (or team captain drafts), the 2025 NBA All-Star Game will be a three-game tournament featuring four teams composed of the league’s top 24 players.

Key Details of the Tournament:

• Scoring Format: The first team to score 40 or more points in each game wins.
• Prize Pool: A total of $1.8 million is on the line, with each player from the championship team earning $125,000.
• Team Selection: NBA legends Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Shaquille O’Neal serve as honorary general managers, selecting their squads via an All-Star draft.
• Fourth Team Addition: The final team, Team C, is comprised of players from Friday’s Rising Stars Challenge, which featured NBA rookies, sophomores, and top G League players. WNBA legend Candace Parker serves as its honorary GM.

All-Star Tournament Bracket & Game Schedule (ET):

🏀 Game 1: Kenny’s Young Stars vs. Chuck’s Global Stars (8:20 p.m.)
🏀 Game 2: Shaq’s OGs vs. Candace’s Rising Stars (9:10 p.m.)
🏆 Championship Game: Winner of Game 1 vs. Winner of Game 2 (10 p.m.)

Meet the 2025 NBA All-Star Rosters

During a live “Inside the NBA” draft special on TNT (Feb. 6), O’Neal, Smith, and Barkley selected their squads from the top 24 All-Stars, chosen via fan and media voting. Here’s how the teams shape up:

Shaq’s OGs (Veteran Stars) 🏀

🔹 LeBron James (No. 1 pick, 21st All-Star appearance)
🔹 Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics)
🔹 Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics)
🔹 Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)
🔹 Kevin Durant (Phoenix Suns)

Kenny’s Young Stars (Rising Superstars) 🌟

🔹 Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons)
🔹 Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks)
🔹 Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves)
🔹 More players TBA

Chuck’s Global Stars (International Talent) 🌍

🔹 Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets, 3x MVP)
🔹 Victor Wembanyama (San Antonio Spurs)
🔹 Kyrie Irving (Dallas Mavericks) – replacing Giannis Antetokounmpo (left calf strain)
🔹 Trae Young (Atlanta Hawks) – replacing Anthony Davis (left adductor strain)

Candace’s Rising Stars (Rookie & G-League Talent) 🚀

🔹 Best players from the Rising Stars Challenge

Coaching Assignments:

Since Oklahoma City Thunder and Cleveland Cavaliers lead their respective conferences, Mark Daigneault (OKC) and Kenny Atkinson (Cavs) will coach two teams, with their assistants managing the other two.

Why Did the NBA Overhaul the All-Star Game?

The NBA All-Star Game has struggled with competitiveness and fan engagement in recent years. The 2024 edition became a defense-free, record-breaking scoring affair (211-186), where players showed little urgency or effort.

🏀 Key Reasons for the Format Change:
✔ Last Year’s Backlash: Fans and analysts heavily criticized the 2024 game’s lack of effort.
✔ Declining TV Ratings: Viewership had dropped due to predictable and uninspired gameplay.
✔ Adam Silver’s Realization: The NBA Commissioner admitted he was “wrong” about expecting players to bring intensity.
✔ Players’ Input: The NBA collaborated with the Players Association, consulting Stephen Curry and executive director Andre Iguodala to create a more engaging structure.

Silver emphasized that modern All-Star events must balance competition and entertainment, stating in December:

“I think we’ve come to terms that modern All-Stars are in part about competition, but ultimately, they’re about entertaining the fans and creating a strong experience for them.”

With these changes, the NBA is attempting to restore credibility to the All-Star Game while keeping fans invested in the action.

Final Thoughts: Will the 2025 NBA All-Star Game Deliver?

The 2025 NBA All-Star Game isn’t just another exhibition—it’s an experiment to prove whether a mini-tournament format can reignite competitiveness and excitement. If successful, it could set a new precedent for future All-Star events.

📆 Tune in Sunday at 8:20 p.m. ET to see if the new format delivers or if the NBA will be back at the drawing board once again.