NBA Announces 2025 All-Star Game Starters and New Tournament Format
The NBA has officially revealed the starters for the 2025 All-Star Game, set to take place on Sunday, February 16, at Chase Center in San Francisco. This year’s event will feature a new and exciting four-team, three-game mini-tournament format, which will air at 8 p.m. ET on TNT.
The 10 players selected as starters for the All-Star Game are as follows:
Eastern Conference Starters:
- Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
- Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
- Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks
- Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Western Conference Starters:
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
- Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
- Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets
- Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns
- LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
The All-Star Game starters were determined by fan voting, which made up 50% of the selection process. NBA players and a media panel each contributed 25% to the vote.
The reserves for the 2025 NBA All-Star Game will be revealed on TNT Thursday, January 30, at 7 p.m. ET. NBA head coaches will select the reserves, which will consist of two guards, three frontcourt players, and two additional players from any position.
New All-Star Game Format:
For the first time in NBA history, the All-Star Game will feature a mini-tournament with four teams, divided into three games. Two teams will face off in one semifinal (Game 1), and the remaining two teams will play in another semifinal (Game 2). The winners of each game will meet in the championship (Game 3). The first team to reach or surpass 40 points will win each game.
The 24 All-Star selections will be divided evenly into three eight-player teams, each led by one of TNT’s Inside the NBA analysts—Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kenny Smith. The analysts will select their teams during the live NBA All-Star Draft on Thursday, February 6, just before TNT’s doubleheader that night.
The fourth team in the mini-tournament will be made up of the winners of the Castrol Rising Stars competition, an event showcasing the league’s top first- and second-year players, along with NBA G League standouts. TNT analyst and WNBA legend Candace Parker will serve as the honorary GM of the Rising Stars champion, known as Team Candace.
The players in the All-Star Game will compete for a total prize pool of $1.8 million. The championship-winning team will earn $125,000 per player, the second-place team will receive $50,000 per player, and players from the third- and fourth-place teams will each take home $25,000.
With an exciting new format and a star-studded roster, the 2025 NBA All-Star Game promises to be one of the most anticipated events of the season.
