The 2025 NBA All-Star Game was weird. Honestly, if you missed the mid-February chaos at the Chase Center in San Francisco, you missed a bizarre pivot in basketball history. We didn't get the standard East vs. West slog that everyone complained about last year. Instead, the league threw us into a mini-tournament with four teams, a "target score" ending, and a draft that felt more like a backyard pick-up game than a corporate gala.
Basically, the NBA All Star 2025 roster was split into three squads of eight players—drafted by Shaq, Chuck, and Kenny Smith—plus a fourth team of Rising Stars.
People were skeptical. I was skeptical. But then Steph Curry started hitting half-court shots in his own home arena, and the atmosphere shifted. It wasn't perfect, but it was different.
The Actual NBA All Star 2025 Roster Breakdown
Let's get into who actually made the cut. The starters were voted in by the fans, players, and media, and for the most part, the usual suspects showed up. But there were some heavy hitters missing due to late-season "body maintenance" (injuries, let's be real).
The Starters (Before the Draft)
The initial pool of starters for the Eastern Conference included Jalen Brunson and Donovan Mitchell in the backcourt. Jayson Tatum, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Karl-Anthony Towns filled out the frontcourt. Over in the West, it was the usual legendary trio of LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant, joined by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic.
LeBron hitting his 21st selection is just stupid. 21 years? Most people don't keep a gym membership for 21 weeks.
The Replacement Drama
Giannis and Anthony Davis (who had just been traded to Dallas) both had to sit out. It happens. This cleared the way for Trae Young to join "Team Chuck" and Kyrie Irving to jump on "Team Shaq."
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Trae was actually pretty vocal about being a "snub" initially. He coined the term "Getting Traed" on social media before Adam Silver gave him the call-up. You've gotta love the pettiness.
Team Shaq: The "OGs" Who Took It All
Shaquille O'Neal might be a comedian on TNT, but his drafting strategy for the NBA All Star 2025 roster was surprisingly focused on rings and veteran savvy. He called them the "OGs."
- Stephen Curry (Warriors) - The local hero.
- Kevin Durant (Suns) - Still the most effortless scorer alive.
- Jayson Tatum (Celtics) - The "young" vet.
- Kyrie Irving (Mavericks) - Replacing AD.
- Damian Lillard (Bucks)
- James Harden (Clippers)
- Jaylen Brown (Celtics)
Shaq basically built a team of guys who could all drop 50 on any given night. It paid off. They ended up winning the whole tournament, beating "Team Chuck" 41–25 in the final game.
Steph Curry walked away with the Kobe Bryant Trophy (MVP) after a vintage performance. He finished with 20 points across his games, but it was the 12 points in the championship round that sealed it. The man just doesn't age.
Team Chuck: The Global Stars
Charles Barkley went for a "World" vibe. He leaned heavily into the international talent that currently dominates the MVP conversations.
- Nikola Jokic (Nuggets)
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder)
- Victor Wembanyama (Spurs)
- Pascal Siakam (Pacers)
- Alperen Sengun (Rockets)
- Karl-Anthony Towns (Knicks)
- Donovan Mitchell (Cavaliers)
- Trae Young (Hawks) - Replacing Giannis.
This team looked terrifying on paper. Seeing Wemby and Jokic on the floor together is like watching a sci-fi movie. However, they lacked that late-game "go-to" scoring punch that Shaq's squad of guards possessed. They beat the "Young Stars" in the semi-finals but ran out of gas against the OGs.
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Team Kenny: The Young Stars
Kenny Smith's roster was a glimpse into the future. It was fast, bouncy, and honestly a bit chaotic.
- Anthony Edwards (Timberwolves)
- Jalen Brunson (Knicks)
- Jaren Jackson Jr. (Grizzlies)
- Jalen Williams (Thunder)
- Darius Garland (Cavaliers)
- Evan Mobley (Cavaliers)
- Cade Cunningham (Pistons)
- Tyler Herro (Heat)
Ant-Man (Anthony Edwards) is the soul of this group. Even in a losing effort against the Global Stars (41–32), he was trying to dunk on everyone. That’s the energy the All-Star game needs more of.
The Fourth Team: Rising Stars
We can't forget the kids. The fourth team in the tournament was the winner of the Rising Stars challenge from Friday night.
Led by rookie Stephon Castle (who won the Rising Stars MVP), this group actually gave Team Shaq a run for their money. They lost 42–35 in the semis, but for a group of rookies and sophomores to hang with KD and Steph? That's impressive. It shows the talent gap in the league is shrinking fast.
What Most People Get Wrong About the 2025 Format
There’s a lot of noise about whether this "mini-tournament" was a success. Some people hated the "stop-and-start" nature of the broadcast. CBS Sports actually reported that while the broadcast was three hours long, we only got about 33 minutes of actual basketball.
That's a problem.
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But here’s the thing: the effort was higher. When the target score is only 40, players actually play defense for the last five points. You saw Shai Gilgeous-Alexander actually sliding his feet. You saw Wemby trying to erase shots at the rim. Compared to the 200–190 scorelines of previous years, this felt like a real sport again. Sorta.
Critical Stats from the Championship Game
If you're a box-score junkie, the final between Team Shaq and Team Chuck was telling.
- Jayson Tatum led all scorers with 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting.
- Steph Curry chipped in 12 points, including four threes.
- Karl-Anthony Towns was the only one doing work for Chuck, grabbing 8 points and 4 boards.
- Donovan Mitchell had a rough night, going 0-for-7. Yikes.
The Takeaway for Fans
The NBA All Star 2025 roster proved that the league is in a transitional phase. The "old guard" (LeBron, Steph, KD) is still winning MVPs and championships, but the "Global" era (Jokic, SGA, Wemby) is officially here.
Next year, expect the league to tweak the timing. They need less Kevin Hart and more actual game time. But the four-team tournament? That’s likely staying. It creates stakes that the old East vs. West format just couldn't manufacture anymore.
If you're looking to track how these players perform for the rest of the season, keep an eye on the "Young Stars" from Team Kenny. Historically, a first-time All-Star nod for guys like Cade Cunningham or Jalen Williams leads to a massive statistical jump in the final two months of the regular season.
Check the current NBA standings to see how many of these All-Stars actually translate their mid-season hype into a deep playoff run. The real season starts now.