The 2025 NBA All-Star Game will shake things up with a completely reimagined format in San Francisco. This year’s event will happen at Chase Center in San Francisco on Sunday, February 16, featuring a fast-paced tournament-style competition with four teams instead of the traditional East vs. West matchup.
The bold new format aims to increase fan engagement and add excitement to the league’s midseason showcase.
How the new NBA All-Star format works
The All-Star selections will be divided into three teams of eight players each, drafted by TNT analysts Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kenny Smith.
To conclude, the fourth team will consist of the winners from the Castrol Rising Stars event, with WNBA legend Candace Parker serving as honorary general manager.
How many games are in the NBA All-Star?
The tournament will have three games:
- 1️⃣ Game 1: Semifinal between two All-Star teams
- 2️⃣ Game 2: Semifinal between the remaining two teams
- 🏆 Game 3 (Final): The winners face off for the championship
Each game will be played to 40 points, without a game clock, only the shot clock will be in effect. The first team to reach 40 points wins, promising a dynamic and competitive showcase.
NBA All-Star takes over San Francisco
Thunder head coach Mark Daigneault will coach one of the four teams in the 2025 NBA All-Star Game, representing the West, and Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson will represent the East. Assistant coaches will lead the Rising Stars winners and the fourth All-Star team.
The prize pool stands at $1.8 million, with each player on the championship team earning $125,000. Also, players on the second, third, and fourth-place teams will receive $50,000 and $25,000 respectively.
All-Star Weekend kicks off on Friday, February 14, with events including the Celebrity Game and Rising Stars competition. Saturday features the highly anticipated Skills Challenge, 3-Point Contest, and Slam Dunk Contest. The tournament-style All-Star Game wraps up the festivities on Sunday evening.
This year’s event is a huge win for the Bay Area, with Chase Center hosting one of the most innovative All-Star Games in NBA history. Local favorite Stephen Curry will represent the Warriors, adding extra excitement for hometown fans.