- The 2025 NBA All-Star Game was played as a four-team championship this year
- Fans and former players have been extremely critical of recent All-Star Games
- Steph Curry was named the All-Star MVP
The 2025 NBA All-Star Game saw a new format developed, but did not see many fans any happier as a result.
The All-Star Game has come under intense scrutiny from fans, pundits, ex-players, journalists and even Barack Obama in recent years, leading to a redeveloping of its presentation as the league seeks to reignite interest in the once beloved annual game.
Some of the most recent All-Star affairs have been criticised for a lack of effort and defence, leading to a concerted effort by the league to re-establish it as a competitve event. This saw this year’s All-Star Game being rebranded as the All-Star Championship, comprising of a four-team elimination tournament.
Three of the four teams were drafted by NBA on TNT analysts Shaquille O’Neal (15x All-Star, 4x NBA Champion), Kenny Smith (2x NBA Champion) and Charles Barkley (11x All-Star), while the fourth team, the winners of the Rising Stars tournament, was managed by TNT analyst Candace Parker (7x WNBA All-Star, 3x WNBA Champion).
Each analyst drafted from a pool of 24 All-Stars, who would then compete against each other in games that were settled when one team hit the 40 point mark. The final saw Shaq’s OG’s overcome Barkley’s Global Stars 41-25, with Steph Curry being named as MVP.
Despite the format change, however, many fans were left unimpressed and vented their frustration at the 2025 NBA All-Star Game on social media.
I honestly thought the NBA All-Star Game couldn’t get any worse. Adam Silver is a legit genius. Finding a way to make the All Star “Game” literally unwatchable took an incredible amount of foresight and creativity. Bravo. pic.twitter.com/OIxH16PqKE
— Dan Zaksheske (@RealDanZak) February 17, 2025
NBA All Star Weekend Summary:
— Jake (@playoffjake) February 17, 2025
– 381 hours of commercials
– 47 times the TNT crew hated on the NBA
– 30+ unfunny Kevin Hart jokes
– A Dark blue and yellow court hurting our eyes
– 0 famous nba players in dunk contest
– No effort in any of the 3 All Star Games played
Worst NBA all star game product of all time and now MrBeast is on my screen pic.twitter.com/gfuYwYwN8q
— DurenSZN (@BenGotDetroit) February 17, 2025
Nobody had to use gimmicks to force Kobe to play hard in the All Star game.
— Jacob (@Jacobtheclipper) February 16, 2025
Kobe woke up and was ready to play hard in ANY game.
The All Star game went down the gutter once Kobe left the game. He would push EVERYONE around him to play harder 🫡
pic.twitter.com/ABbftZeC7r
The all star game is washed #NBAAllStar2025 pic.twitter.com/PFLQzOk95l
— joeman (@joeman_goat) February 17, 2025
The All Star Games tonight:
— Hater Central (@TheHateCentral) February 17, 2025
1 Hour of Commercials
45 Minutes of Kevin Hart
3 Games
0 Effort
100% Boring
ADAM SILVER MAKES NICO HARRISON LOOK LIKE A GENIUS 🙏🙏🙏 pic.twitter.com/K2sszpEMlu
NBA: “We want the players to take the All Star Game more seriously”
— Geofferson (@geoF_THAT) February 17, 2025
Middle of the game: pic.twitter.com/bYGUYiBsBN
Yea this new format at ain’t it.
— Joshua Bingham (@binghamology) February 17, 2025
They just need to cancel this All Star Game. #NBAAllStar #NBAAllStar2025 pic.twitter.com/ue1BY4Rtfe
Hand down the worst nba all star game ever pic.twitter.com/3r3ILFdoZs
— ᴱᴸᴵᴶᴬᴴ 🎯 (@Eesus_Christ) February 17, 2025
They done turned the All Star game into the price is right pic.twitter.com/28nsMmdxYc
— KDG 🧀🦌 (@Official414) February 17, 2025
So it’s safe to say the 2025 NBA All-Star Game, new format and all, went over about as well as Space Jam: A New Legacy. Maybe NBA Commissioner Adam Silver needs to draft Big Barry Obama for next year’s game in order to finally make it work again?
