The 2025 NBA All-Star Game is set to bring a fresh twist to the league’s annual midseason event. Instead of the traditional East vs West matchup or the team captain draft format used in recent years, this year’s showdown will feature a mini-tournament with four teams battling for the title.
The reimagined format will debut on Sunday, February 16, at Chase Center in San Francisco, home of the Golden State Warriors, and will be broadcast live at 8 p.m. ET on TNT.
This bold change aims to increase competition and engagement, addressing concerns about the All-Star Game‘s declining intensity in recent seasons. With a faster-paced style and a high-stakes prize pool, the league hopes to reignite the excitement that once defined its showcase event.
How the new NBA All-Star format works
The new format will divide the 24 NBA All-Star selections into three teams of eight players each, with rosters picked by TNT analysts Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kenny Smith.
These squads will be named Team Chuck, Team Shaq, and Team Kenny. The fourth team will feature the winners of the Castrol Rising Stars competition, made up of top first- and second-year players, and will be called Team Candace, with Candace Parker serving as honorary general manager.
The tournament will unfold in a three-game format:
- Game 1: Two teams will compete in the first semifinal.
- Game 2: The remaining two teams will battle in the second semifinal.
- Game 3 (Final): The winners of the first two games will face off for the championship.
Each game will be played to 40 points, with no game clock-only the shot clock will be in effect. The first team to reach or exceed 40 points wins, creating a fast-paced and dynamic competition.
Team Chuck: Denver’s Nikola Jokic, Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama, Indiana’s Pascal Siakam, Houston’s Alperen Sengun, New York’s Karl-Anthony Towns, Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell, Atlanta’s Trae Young.
Team Shaq: Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James, Golden State’s Stephen Curry, Dallas’ Anthony Davis, Boston teammates Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, Phoenix’s Kevin Durant, Milwaukee’s Damian Lillard and the Los Angeles Clippers’ James Harden.
Team Kenny: Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards, New York’s Jalen Brunson, Memphis’ Jaren Jackson Jr., Oklahoma City’s Jalen Williams, Cleveland teammates Darius Garland and Evan Mobley, Detroit’s Cade Cunningham and Miami’s Tyler Herro.
Coaching, prize money, and betting odds
The four head coaches for the All-Star Game will come from the teams with the best regular-season records in the Eastern and Western Conferences as of February 2.
The leading head coach from each conference will take charge of an All-Star team, while assistant coaches from those staffs will coach the Rising Stars winners and the remaining All-Star team.
The prize pool is set at $1.8 million, with each player on the winning team earning $125,000. The second-place team will receive $50,000 per player, while players on the third- and fourth-place teams will take home $25,000 each.
With the new format shaking things up, Team Shaq has emerged as the early betting favorite at +155, followed by Team Chuck at +165. Team Kenny trails at +375, while Team Candace is the underdog at +650.
Packed NBA all-star weekend schedule
All-Star Weekend is more than just the main event. Fans can look forward to three days of exciting action:
Friday, February 14:
- Celebrity Game – 7 p.m. ET (ESPN)
- Rising Stars Competition – 9 p.m. ET (TNT, TruTV)
Saturday, February 15:
- All-Star Practice – 2 p.m. ET (NBA TV)
- NBA HBCU Classic – 5 p.m. ET (NBA TV)
- All-Star Saturday Night (Skills Challenge, 3-Point Contest, Dunk Contest) – 8 p.m. ET (TNT, TruTV)
Sunday, February 16:
- NBA All-Star Game – 8 p.m. ET (TNT, TruTV)
Among the other events, Damian Lillard is favored to win his third consecutive 3-Point Contest, while Team Cavs (Donovan Mitchell & Evan Mobley) are leading the odds in the Skills Challenge at +200.
Music will also be a key part of the weekend. LiAngelo Ball is confirmed to perform during All-Star Saturday Night, with more artists expected to be announced soon.
A new era for the all-star game
The NBA’s decision to introduce a tournament-style format reflects its commitment to revitalizing the All-Star Game.
By making the competition more fast-paced and rewarding, the league hopes to reignite fan enthusiasm and showcase its top players in a new, dynamic setting.
Whether this format becomes a long-term fixture remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the 2025 NBA All-Star Game is set to be an event like no other.
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