SAN FRANCISCO — The 2025 NBA All-Star Weekend in San Francisco and Oakland delivered both exciting moments and areas that still need improvement.
As the league continues experimenting with the All-Star Game format, the goal remains to make it a more engaging and entertaining experience for players, partners, and fans.
The new four-team mini-tournament, where the first team to reach 40 points advanced, showed promise but also had some drawbacks.
“I think it was a good step in the right direction to bring more energy to the game. Next year, you make more adjustments and see what can be improved,” said Golden State’s Steph Curry, who was named All-Star MVP.
San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama, making his All-Star debut, shared his thoughts: “It felt like the stakes were high in these games. It was better than I expected, and I think the format worked pretty well.”
However, there were some issues, including prolonged in-game entertainment segments that extended the game’s duration, potentially affecting viewer engagement.
Here are the winners and losers from the Newsyourday NBA All-Star Weekend:
WINNERS
The new format boosts competitiveness, but imperfections remain.
The All-Star Game mini-tournament was a noticeable improvement, as players showed greater effort on defense and competition levels rose. However, the revised format was not without flaws. Splitting the All-Star teams into three different squads, regardless of conference affiliation, still felt somewhat gimmicky.
Most fans likely prefer a format that aligns more with the classic East vs. West matchup—one where the players' commitment is evident. The answer to fixing this may be simpler than it seems.
In this All-Star Game, players on the championship-winning team took home $125,000 each, while those on the second-place team earned $50,000. Players on the third- and fourth-place teams received $25,000 each.
If the NBA truly wants to restore the All-Star Game’s prestige, the league should significantly boost the winners’ payout while reducing the amount awarded to the losing teams. It may not create the best optics, but if the goal is to make the event more competitive and engaging, increasing the financial incentive would be a logical first step.
Steph Curry
Bay Area: San Francisco and Oakland
The NBA honored both San Francisco and Oakland by hosting official All-Star events in both cities. As part of the celebration, basketball courts across the region were refurbished.
Oakland native Gary Payton was a prominent figure throughout the weekend, along with former Golden State Warriors stars Mitch Richmond, Tim Hardaway, Chris Mullin, and Rick Barry—all Hall of Famers.
Adding to the legacy, future Hall of Famer Steph Curry and his wife, Ayesha, funded the renovation of the McClymonds High School gym in Oakland, where Hall of Famer Bill Russell once played.
Curry Shines with Second All-Star MVP Win
Steph Curry claimed his second All-Star MVP award in the city he calls home. Across two games, he posted 20 points, 10 rebounds, three steals, and two assists, putting on a shooting display that mesmerized not only Warriors fans but basketball lovers worldwide.
Mac McClung Cements His Legacy as an All-Time Dunker
No player had ever won three consecutive NBA Slam Dunk Contests—until Saturday night. Orlando Magic guard Mac McClung, representing the team’s G League affiliate, Osceola Magic, delivered a historic performance, solidifying his place among the greatest dunkers ever.
McClung earned perfect 50s on all four of his dunks, soaring over sedans, individuals spinning on hoverboards, and even 6-foot-11 Evan Mobley, who stood elevated on a short stage.
His electrifying performance had current NBA stars buzzing, with Ja Morant of the Grizzlies and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Bucks hinting on social media that they might join the contest next year.
Shaq’s Purple Fedora Steals the Show
Leave it to Big Diesel to make a fashion statement. Shaquille O'Neal, whose team "Shaq's OGs" won the All-Star Game, rocked a bold purple fedora that became a highlight of the night. At one point, during a segment enhanced by comedian Kevin Hart’s comedic timing, the fedora was passed to Charles Barkley, who playfully put it on. In another segment, it made its way to Hart. These playful moments added a touch of levity and humor to the All-Star Sunday festivities.
Tyler Herro Triumphs in 3-Point Contest
In his second NBA All-Star 3-point contest, Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro claimed victory for the first time, marking a milestone in his All-Star journey.
LOSERS
Delay in All-Star Championship Game
With the score at 11-1 in the All-Star Game, a break was taken to honor the TNT “Inside the NBA” crew, as they were wrapping up their final All-Star Weekend before the new TV deal starts next season, with NBC taking over coverage. While the tribute was well-deserved, it resulted in a nearly 20-minute delay before the game resumed, causing some viewers to lose interest.
Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander voiced his thoughts, saying, “Yeah, breaks, I guess, weren't ideal. I would rather play without breaks. But I had fun nonetheless.”
Boston’s Jayson Tatum added, “The toughest part was when they stopped the game for the presentation while we were kind of halfway through. We were sitting down for 20 minutes, and it was tough to get back into the game after that.”
Injuries
Several key players were sidelined due to injuries, including Los Angeles Lakers’ LeBron James, Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo, Dallas’ Anthony Davis, and Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards, all of whom did not participate in the All-Star Game.
Antetokounmpo and Davis Replaced by Commissioner’s Picks
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Anthony Davis were officially listed out of the All-Star Game due to injury and were replaced by commissioner selections—Trae Young and Kyrie Irving. However, LeBron James and Anthony Edwards were late scratches from the game.
James’ absence ended his historic streak of 20 consecutive All-Star starts, a record in NBA history.
Skills Challenge Struggles Once Again
The most notable moment in the Skills Challenge was when the Spurs team, consisting of Chris Paul and Victor Wembanyama, attempted to bend the rules to their advantage. They quickly wasted their shot attempts to save time, which led to their disqualification. The fans booed, and the event felt disorganized, with unclear rule communication. Even an NBA staff member interrupted TNT’s Allie LaForce from interviewing the duo.
This contrasted sharply with the 2007 Skills Challenge, which featured legitimate stars like Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade. To make the event worthwhile, it is essential to have the game’s best players not only participate but truly invest in it.
Inclusion of Rising Stars in All-Star Sunday Draws Criticism
Warriors forward Draymond Green, serving as a guest analyst for TNT, heavily criticized the NBA’s decision to have the winning team from the Rising Stars event compete against the All-Stars. He called it “absurd” and “ridiculous” in multiple rants.
His teammate, Stephen Curry, while more diplomatic, agreed, stating, “Obviously, there was a lot of conversation around the fourth team and the Rising Stars. The All-Star experience on Sunday is very sacred, and you have to work your way into that.”
Both players make a strong point. While the Rising Stars gave a good effort, the core purpose of All-Star Sunday is to showcase the world’s elite in competition. Including the Rising Stars feels more like a participation trophy and diminishes the overall prestige of the event.
