Honestly, the NBA 2025 All-Stars weekend was a bit of a fever dream for anyone who grew up watching the classic East vs. West slugfests. We finally moved past the traditional "run and gun" exhibition. It was high time. The league clearly felt the pressure to fix a product that had become, well, let's just say "defensively optional" over the last decade.
By the time the circus rolled into San Francisco's Chase Center between February 14 and 16, the vibes were already different. You could feel it in the air around Thrive City.
The 74th edition of this game wasn't just a game. It was a experiment.
The New Tournament Structure: What Actually Happened
Forget 48 minutes of guys waving each other through for uncontested dunks. The NBA 2025 All-Stars format pivoted to a four-team mini-tournament. It’s basically what we saw with the Rising Stars, but scaled up for the big dogs.
Team Shaq, Team Chuck, and Team Kenny. Yes, the Inside the NBA crew actually drafted the squads on February 6. It felt like a backyard pick-up game, only with millions of dollars in production value and LeBron James being the first overall pick. Again.
The fourth team was the winner of the Rising Stars game from Friday night.
Breaking Down the Rosters
The draft was chaotic. Shaq went for size and legacy, snagging LeBron and Steph Curry. There is something inherently funny about Steph playing an All-Star game on his home floor while being coached—at least symbolically—by Shaquille O'Neal.
💡 You might also like: Current Score of the Steelers Game: Why the 30-6 Texans Blowout Changed Everything
Kenny Smith, ever the "tactician," focused on the younger, high-motor guys like Anthony Edwards and Jalen Brunson.
Team Shaq Highlights:
- LeBron James (Lakers) - Starter
- Steph Curry (Warriors) - Starter
- Kevin Durant (Suns) - Starter
- Kyrie Irving (Mavericks) - Injury replacement for Anthony Davis
- Jaylen Brown (Celtics)
Team Chuck (The "Big Man" Squad):
- Nikola Jokić (Nuggets) - Starter
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder) - Starter
- Victor Wembanyama (Spurs)
- Donovan Mitchell (Cavaliers)
Chuck’s team looked like a 2K glitch. Imagine trying to score in the paint against Jokić and Wembanyama while SGA is pestering you at the perimeter. It’s a lot.
Why the Steph vs. Sabrina Rematch Fell Through
This was the one everyone wanted. 2024 gave us that electric moment where Sabrina Ionescu almost beat the greatest shooter ever. For the NBA 2025 All-Stars, the plan was bigger. A 2v2 shootout. Steph and Klay Thompson (The Splash Brothers) vs. Sabrina and Caitlin Clark.
It sounds perfect, right?
📖 Related: Last Match Man City: Why Newcastle Couldn't Stop the Semenyo Surge
Well, it didn't happen.
Caitlin Clark declined the invitation. She reportedly wanted to save her three-point contest debut for the WNBA All-Star game in July, which, to be fair, was being held at her home arena in Indianapolis. Once she was out, the NBA scrapped the whole thing. They didn't want a "lite" version of the event. Mike Bass, the NBA spokesman, basically said if they couldn't raise the bar from last year, they weren't going to do it at all.
It was a bummer for the fans in the Bay Area, but at least we got Tyler Herro winning the standard 3-Point Contest with 24 points. He finally got his trophy.
The Saturday Night Chaos
Saturday night is usually where the "vibes" live or die. The Skills Challenge featured some weird pairings. We had Team Cavs (Mitchell and Mobley) and Team Spurs (Chris Paul and Wembanyama). Watching CP3 throw lobs to a 7'4" alien in a skills competition is exactly the kind of nonsense we pay to see.
And then there's the dunk contest.
Mac McClung was back, obviously. He’s basically the final boss of the All-Star Saturday Night at this point. He faced off against Matas Buzelis and Stephon Castle. While people love to complain that the "stars" don't dunk anymore, McClung still puts on a show that defies physics.
👉 See also: Cowboys Score: Why Dallas Just Can't Finish the Job When it Matters
Rising Stars and the G-League Factor
Friday night was actually competitive. Team Chris (Mullin) featured Stephon Castle and Zach Edey. They went up against Team Jeremy (Lin), which was the G-League squad. It's kinda wild how much harder the G-League guys play. They have everything to prove.
The G-League team included Mac McClung (again, busy weekend for him) and Reed Sheppard. Watching these guys scrap for a win in a semi-exhibition game is often more entertaining than the actual All-Star Sunday.
San Francisco as the Backdrop
Hosting at Chase Center meant the tech influence was everywhere. They had "Pay-By-Face" kiosks for BBQ. Seriously. You just stare at a screen and you get your ribs. It’s very "San Francisco 2025."
The city also had to deal with the Lunar New Year celebrations happening at the same time. If you were trying to get an Uber near Moscone Center or Pier 48, you were basically out of luck. The NBA Crossover event at Moscone was the hub for fans, filled with the usual sneaker drops and interactive courts.
The Actionable Takeaway for Fans
If you're looking back at the NBA 2025 All-Stars and wondering if the "tournament" format is here to stay, the answer depends on the TV ratings. The league is desperate to make Sunday night matter.
What you should do next:
- Watch the highlights of Team Shaq vs. Team Chuck: The chemistry between LeBron and Steph on the same court is a rare thing that won't last much longer as they both enter the twilight of their careers.
- Keep an eye on the 2026 format: Rumors are already swirling that the league might go even further with the tournament style, potentially including international teams or more WNBA crossovers.
- Check out the WNBA All-Star 2025 rosters: Since Caitlin Clark skipped the February festivities, her showdown in July is the "true" shooting event of the year.
The NBA is in a transition phase. They are trying to find the balance between a celebrity party and a basketball game. The 2025 weekend proved they're willing to break their own rules to get there.