NBA All-Star Game 2025: New Format Sparks Player Reactions

The NBA has announced a new format for the 2025 All-Star Game, introducing a four-team knockout competition. This year’s event will take place on February 16, 2025, at the Chase Center in San Francisco.

In this new structure, four teams of eight players will compete in a knockout-style tournament. The winners of each semifinal, played to 40 points, will advance to the championship game. Three teams will consist of the 24 All-Stars selected for the event, while the fourth team will feature players from the Rising Stars tournament, which includes rookies, sophomores, and G-League players.

Team selection will also change, with TNT analysts Shaquille O'Neal, Charles Barkley, and Kenny Smith acting as general managers for the three All-Star teams in a draft format. Candace Parker will serve as the GM for the Rising Stars team.
Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant was quick to voice his dissatisfaction with the new format, stating, "I hate it. I absolutely hate it. I think it will be terrible." He expressed a preference for the traditional Eastern vs. Western Conference matchup, which was reintroduced last year. However, he acknowledged that the new format might still succeed.

Despite the changes, fans will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite players, with voting set to begin on December 19. The 2024 All-Star Game was notable for seeing a team break the 200-point mark for the first time in history, with the Eastern Conference winning 211-186.

Stay tuned for more updates as the All-Star Game approaches!