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The NBA All-Star Game has a brand-new format: a four-team, single-elimination tournament with untimed games and first-to-40 scoring. Can a young Rising Stars squad pull off a shocking upset against NBA legends?
NBA stars clash in All-Star Game’s bold new format
UPDATED: Feb 16, 2025 23:00 IST
A True All-Star Showdown.
One side boasts 86 combined All-Star selections, $2.7 billion in on-court earnings, and a roster where every player is either an NBA champion, an Olympic gold medalist, or both.
On the other, a group of young, hungry players with little experience but everything to prove.
Welcome to the reimagined NBA All-Star Game, now a single-elimination mini-tournament. Featuring four teams of eight players, three games, and a "first to 40 points" rule, this new format brings a David vs. Goliath element into the mix. The event takes place Sunday night in San Francisco as part of the NBA’s latest attempt to make the midseason showcase competitive again.
“It’s definitely different, definitely interesting,” New York’s Jalen Brunson said. “We’ll see. I’m just as interested as you.”
Gone are the traditional Eastern Conference vs. Western Conference matchups. Instead, there are four newly named teams:
Shaq’s OGs Kenny’s Young Stars Chuck’s Global Stars Candace’s Rising Stars
These teams are named after TNT analysts and basketball legends Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, and Candace Parker.
The Matchups
Smith’s team will battle Barkley’s team in the first semifinal.
But all eyes will be on the second semifinal, where O’Neal’s team, packed with NBA legends, will take on a group of first- and second-year players who earned their spot by winning Friday’s Rising Stars competition.
The Shaq’s OGs roster includes:
LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, James Harden, Damian Lillard, Kyrie Irving, Jaylen Brown, and Jayson Tatum.
They will face an underdog squad featuring:
Stephon Castle (San Antonio), Keyonte George (Utah), Ryan Dunn (Phoenix), Zach Edey & Jaylen Wells (Memphis), Trayce Jackson-Davis (Golden State), Dalton Knecht (LA Lakers), and Amen Thompson (Houston).
While these young players aren’t officially All-Stars, they have a chance to shock the world.
Will the underdogs pull off the upset?
“I think that’s probably why they put this type of format in—to create that sense of pride and not wanting to be on the wrong end of an upset,” Lillard said.
One thing is certain: The young team will bring energy.
“They’re still NBA basketball players,” said Mac McClung, who faced the Rising Stars team in the title game. “They’re still really good. We’ll see how competitive the game is, but I’m excited to watch it.”
That competitive spirit is exactly why the NBA made this change.
Why did the NBA change the format?
Last year’s All-Star Game set record highs for scoring—but not in a good way. The 211-186 final score was filled with dunks and three-pointers, with almost zero defense.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver and league officials weren’t happy. They wanted a better product—not necessarily a Game 7-level war, but something more watchable.
That’s how this new tournament format was born.
“I like taking chances on something different,” Curry said. “The game had kind of stalled out for a couple of years. I think this will work because it’s something new for everybody.”
Defense? In the All-Star Game?
One player is already vowing to bring defense to the game.
San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama, a top Defensive Player of the Year candidate, says he isn’t treating this as a laid-back exhibition.
“That’s the goal,” Wembanyama said. “The goal is not to chill, for sure.”
Inside the numbers: A huge mismatch
The gap between these teams—on paper—is massive.
Consider the all-time scoring rankings:
Shaq’s OGs boast the No. 1 (James), No. 8 (Durant), No. 13 (Harden), No. 27 (Curry), No. 37 (Lillard), No. 81 (Irving), No. 220 (Tatum), and No. 337 (Brown) scorers in NBA history.
The Rising Stars’ top scorer? Keyonte George, who ranks 1,813th all-time.
But numbers don’t tell the whole story — heart, hustle, and effort could make the difference.
The Format & Prize Money
Untimed games First team to 40 points wins No fouling out Standard rules apply No consolation gamePrize Money Breakdown:
Winners: $125,000 per player Runners-up: $50,000 per player Other two teams: $25,000 per playerSource: Associated Press
Published By:
indiatodayglobal
Published On:
Feb 16, 2025
