The 2025 All-Star weekend in the Bay Area was filled with fun, entertainment, and basketball, combining tradition with a new approach that fans eagerly anticipated. The celebration featured numerous fan-favorite events like the slam dunk contest, 3-point contest, and, of course, the All-Star celebrity basketball game remaining the same, the NBA introduced a new way to win the All-Star Game. The NBA introduced a mini-tournament featuring four teams and three games; this intensified the competition and brought a new level of excitement to the game.
In this new game, the teams were named after TNT analysts Shaq’s OGs, Kenny’s Young Stars, Chuck’s Global Stars, and Candace’s Rising Stars. To win, a team had to reach or exceed 40 points to advance to the next round. The first team to face off was Kenny’s Young Stars and Chuck’s Global Stars, where Kenny’s Young Stars won 41-32, while Shaq’s OGs won against Candace’s Rising Stars in a close 42-35 matchup. The championship game concluded with Shaq’s OGs winning decisively over Chuck’s Global Stars, 41-25, led by Stephen Curry, who earned MVP honors on his home court. His victory in the Bay Area was a storybook moment and confirmed the success of the new format.
When first hearing about this change, few people were sure how it would play out, but by the time the games started, it was clear the NBA had made the right call. The format brought a new level of competition, with each match being fast-paced, which made the energy lively and different. In a way, it felt like the stakes were higher. However, despite how exciting the weekend was with two significant injuries, you can tell that a piece of the game was missing. For the first time in 20 years of playing in the All-Star games, LeBron James wasn’t on the court due to injury, and it did feel a bit off. LeBron had been a staple of All-Star weekend for two decades, and not having him in the mix left a noticeable gap.
Still, the weekend was delivered in other ways. Mac McClung proved he’s still the king of the dunk contest, securing his third straight win with several jaw-dropping aerial acrobatics. Meanwhile, Miami Heat’s Tyler Herro edged out Buddy Hield in a close three-point contest, showing that he’s more than just a clutch shooter; he’s one of the best marksmen in the game.
The Celebrity Game was another highlight, with social media stars Druski and Kai Cenat competing against each other on opposing teams. The NBA made a smart move by bringing them in, as their presence helped draw more attention to the game among the younger generation. Seeing them out there alongside former NBA players and other celebrities made the game even more entertaining, and Rome Flynn ended up stealing the show, winning MVP after leading his team to victory.
All in all, this year’s All-Star Weekend was a win. The new game format worked, the contests delivered, and the celebrity involvement helped keep things fresh and new. But as great as it was, there was no ignoring the fact that we might be entering the last stretch of the LeBron era. His absence was felt, and it served as a reminder that the NBA’s next generation is stepping up.
