NBA All-Star 2025 grades, including Rising Stars, dunk contest
The NBA’s All-Star Weekend wrapped up Sunday, and we graded the competitors for all the events, including the revamped All-Star Game that featured four squads facing off in a tournament-style format at Chase Center in San Francisco.
In Sunday’s main event, Shaq’s OGs won the tournament and Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry earned MVP honors at his home arena. His team first beat Candace’s Rising Stars before defeating Chuck’s Global Stars in the final. LeBron James, who was named to a record-extending 21st All-Star Game, was a late scratch due to discomfort in his left foot.
Saturday night featured the skills challenge, which was dominated by the Cleveland Cavaliers duo of Evan Mobley and Donovan Mitchell despite the controversy surrounding the disqualification of San Antonio Spurs partners Victor Wembanyama and Chris Paul. The sharpshooters of the league then went head-to-head in the 3-point contest, with Damian Lillard going for a three-peat. But he was dethroned by Tyler Herro.
The highly anticipated dunk contest did end in a three-peat as reigning champion Mac McClung took the trophy home once again after a battle against Rising Stars MVP Stephon Castle.
The festivities kicked off Friday with the Rising Stars event, where the winning side of the four-team tournament featuring first- and second-year NBA players (plus one G League squad) booked a spot to participate in Sunday’s main event.
Let’s get to the grades and assess how each player performed this weekend.
All-Star Game
Skills competition | 3-point contest
Dunk contest | Rising Stars
The NBA’s attempt to revamp the All-Star Game as a mini-tournament had mixed results in its first year. The two semifinals delivered more competitive play than we’ve seen in recent All-Star games, but the final was never in doubt as Shaq’s OGs — led by Stephen Curry, named MVP in front of home fans at the Chase Center — started the game on an 11-0 run and barely looked back en route to victory. We broke down the performances of the players on all four teams, including the Rising Stars champions, who earned a spot in the semifinals against the league’s biggest stars.
Final Scores:
Semifinal 1: Chuck’s Global Stars 41, Kenny’s Young Stars 32
Semifinal 2: Shaq’s OGs 42, Candace’s Rising Stars, 35
Final: Shaq’s OGs 42, Chuck’s Global Stars 25
Honorary GM: Shaquille O’Neal
Coach: Mark Daigneault, Oklahoma City Thunder head coach
Jaylen Brown, F, Boston Celtics
Final: 4 points | 2 rebounds | 2-for-4 shooting
Semifinal: 8 points | 1 steal | 4-for-5 shooting
Grade: B+
What stood out: Brown’s night started inauspiciously as he air-balled a 3 shortly after checking into the semifinal. That was the only shot Brown missed in that game, and he was a factor on defense, blocking Stephon Castle and overplaying for a steal as the OGs pulled away. In the final, Brown had a powerful dunk in transition.
Stephen Curry, G, Golden State Warriors
Final: 12 points | 4 rebounds | 4-for-8 three-point attempts
Semifinal: 8 points | 6 points | 2-for-8 three-point attempts
Grade: A-
What stood out: Serving capably as host, Curry earned MVP honors by making four 3-pointers in the final while also playing to the crowd. Curry started the final with a running 3-pointer off one leg and later pulled up from half court to make a logo 3. In the late stages, Curry turned his back in trademark celebration on a 3 that got the OGs within one point of victory, though he committed an unexpected eight-second violation thereafter — with the crowd booing the referees for calling the infraction.
Kevin Durant, F, Phoenix Suns
Final: 0 points | 2 rebounds | 1 steal
Semifinal: 4 points | 3 rebounds | 3 assists
Grade: B-
What stood out: Reunited with Curry, Durant couldn’t find the range from beyond the arc. He missed all three of his 3-point attempts and shot just 2 of 9 overall, including a scoreless final. Durant couldn’t convert a 3 that would have been the night’s biggest highlight after Curry started the sequence with a behind-the-back pass. But Durant had a dunk in the first game to get the OGs within a point of advancing. He also led the team in assists during the semifinals and denied Victor Wembanyama on defense in the final.
James Harden, G, LA Clippers
Final: 3 points | 4 assists | 2 rebounds
Semifinal: 3 points | 2 assists | 1 rebound
Grade: B+
What stood out: Content to play passer, Harden attempted just three shots in the two games, all from 3-point range. He found the biggest obstacle for a step-back 3 in the semifinal, making the shot over 7-foot-4 Zach Edey. Harden also led all players in assists during the final.
Kyrie Irving, G, Dallas Mavericks
Final: 7 points | 3 rebounds | 3-for-5 shooting
Semifinal: 4 points | 3 rebounds | 2 steals
Grade: A-
What stood out: Irving was at the center of much of the action, displaying his dribbling skill in the final. He dazzled with a move to elude Wembanyama in the final and make a layup, then juked Wemby with fancy footwork on a step-through but didn’t hit the shot. Irving also threw it off the backboard to himself for a dunk and had multiple assists to Brown in the semifinal.
LeBron James, F, Los Angeles Lakers
Final/Semifinal: DNP
Grade: Incomplete
What stood out: After playing all 20 previous All-Star Games for which he was selected, setting a record for All-Star appearances, James sat out Sunday due to lingering foot and ankle soreness.
Lakers star LeBron James announces he will sit out the All-Star game because of ankle and foot discomfort.
Damian Lillard, G, Milwaukee Bucks
Final: 1 point | 0-for-1 shooting
Semifinal: 9 points | 3 rebounds | 3-for-4 three-point attempts
Grade: B+
What stood out: Lillard hit the 3 that sent Shaq’s OGs to the final after multiple efforts — including his pull-up inside the arc — missed. That was Lillard’s only miss in the semifinal, though he was a curious nonfactor in the final, playing a team-low three minutes.
Jayson Tatum, F, Boston Celtics
Final: 15 points | 3 rebounds | 3-for-4 three-point attempts
Semifinal: 6 points | 2 rebounds | 3-for-4 shooting
Grade: A
What stood out: Nobody will complain about Curry’s MVP selection, but if we were going strictly off production, Tatum — who won the award in 2023 — would have been a deserving choice. He led Shaq’s OGs with 15 points in the final, getting the team started by scoring eight of the game’s first 11 points and then ending things with a backdoor cut for a dunk. Tatum missed just three of his 11 shot attempts in the two games and knocked down three 3-pointers in the final.
Honorary GM: Charles Barkley
Coach: Kenny Atkinson, Cleveland Cavaliers head coach
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, G, Oklahoma City Thunder
Final: 4 points | 1 rebound | 1-for-4 shooting
Semifinal: 12 points | 2 rebounds | 5-for-5 shooting
Grade: B+
What stood out: Entering the final, Gilgeous-Alexander was a strong contender for All-Star Game MVP after scoring 14 points in the semifinal, including a drive and dunk to reach the target score. Gilgeous-Alexander couldn’t keep it up in the final, missing three of his four shots, though his free throw got his squad on the board after an 11-0 start. In the semifinal, Gilgeous-Alexander teamed up with Nikola Jokic on a give-and-go, and he blocked a Jalen Brunson 3-point attempt.
Nikola Jokic, C, Denver Nuggets
Final: 2 points | 4 rebounds | 2 assists
Semifinal: 2 points | 3 assists
Grade: B-
What stood out: In the new format, Jokic showed more defensive intensity than we’ve seen from him in past All-Star games, but the statistical production that has made him a three-time regular-season MVP still wasn’t there. Jokic made just two shots and missed a pair of free throws in the final, though he was more effective as a distributor.
Donovan Mitchell, G, Cleveland Cavaliers
Final: 0 points | 3 rebounds | 2 assists
Semifinal: 3 points | 2 rebounds | 3 assists
Grade: D
What stood out: Despite playing hard, Mitchell suffered under the new format, having his shot blocked multiple times. He finished a combined 1-for-11 from the field, with his lone make coming from well beyond the 3-point line in transition. Mitchell flashed passing skill, finding Jokic for a layup, but wasn’t the same contributor who has led Cleveland to the Eastern Conference’s best record.
Victor Wembanyama, C, San Antonio Spurs
Final: 11 points | 3 rebounds | 5-for-7 shooting
Semifinal: 6 points | 3 rebounds | 1 block
Grade: A-
What stood out: In the first of what surely will be many All-Star appearances, Wembanyama played to win. Wembanyama didn’t get enough help to come out victorious but would have been a strong MVP contender had his team pulled it off. Wembanyama led his team in scoring during the final, offering some energy off the bench and was active at both ends. Wembanyama blocked Cade Cunningham’s dunk attempt in the semifinal and turned a block at one end into a 3 at the other in the final, during which he also went end-to-end for a dunk.
Pascal Siakam, F, Indiana Pacers
Final: 1 rebound
Semifinal: 4 points | 2 assists | 2 steals
Grade: B-
What stood out: Active as a starter in the semifinal, Siakam had a memorable three-play sequence when he scored off a Trae Young feed, stole a pass on the subsequent possession and then assisted on Young’s layup. Siakam played only the opening minutes of the final before giving way to Wembanyama.
Alperen Sengun, C, Houston Rockets
Final: No major stats
Semifinal: 4 points | 2-for-2 shooting
Grade: B-
What stood out: After contributing two shots at the rim in the semifinal, Sengun didn’t check in to the final until his team was a point from elimination. That put Sengun in a position to concede the winning score when Jayson Tatum pulled off a backdoor cut against him.
Karl-Anthony Towns, C, New York Knicks
Final: 8 points | 4 rebounds | 4-for-7 shooting
Semifinal: 6 points | 3 rebounds | 2-for-3 3-point attempts
Grade: B+
What stood out: Only Wembanyama had more points for Chuck’s Global All-Stars in the final than Towns. He started the night by seeing how far he could connect from 3-point range, hitting one from a listed 28 feet and another from the logo (officially 37 feet). Towns missed his last three 3-point attempts from well beyond the arc but had more success inside it.
Trae Young, G, Atlanta Hawks
Final: 0 points | 2 assists
Semifinal: 4 points | 5 assists
Grade: B
What stood out: Young was a big part of his team’s semifinal win, leading all players in assists, highlighted by a lookaway pass to Siakam. Young was less effective in the final, missing all three of his shot attempts from 3-point range with his team going 2-of-16 from long distance.
Honorary GM: Kenny Smith
Coach: Dave Bliss, Oklahoma City Thunder assistant coach
Jalen Brunson, G, New York Knicks
Semifinal: 3 points | 3 assists | 1-for-5 shooting
Grade: C+
What stood out: Brunson started strong with a steal on the game’s first defensive possession and had three assists, but a corner 3 was his only make in a team-high-tying five shot attempts.
Anthony Edwards, G, Minnesota Timberwolves
Semifinal: DNP
Grade: Incomplete
What stood out: Edwards, who has been dealing with a groin injury, was a last-minute scratch from the All-Star Game.
Jaren Jackson Jr., F, Memphis Grizzlies
Semifinal: 4 points | 2 assists | 2-for-5 shooting
Grade: B
What stood out: Jackson gave the crowd a glimpse of defense in the All-Star Game by blocking Donovan Mitchell. He later got another block on Mitchell’s attempted reverse layup. But Jackson’s energy might have worked against him on the game’s final play, as he tried to pick up Shai Gilgeous-Alexander full court but was beaten off the dribble as Gilgeous-Alexander drove for the winning score.
Jalen Williams, F, Oklahoma City Thunder
Grade: C
Semifinal: 2 points | 1 assist | 1 block
What stood out: Getting the start in his All-Star debut, Williams might have been too exuberant in pursuit of highlights. He set up Evan Mobley for a lob dunk, but threw another attempt out of bounds and had two of his team’s four turnovers. On the plus side, Williams also blocked Mitchell.
Darius Garland, G, Cleveland Cavaliers
Semifinal: 6 points | 3 assists | 2 steals
Grade: A-
What stood out: Active off the bench, Garland tied for the team lead in points, assists and steals. He came up with a steal and converted it into a lob to Jalen Williams for a dunk. Garland also made a pair of 3-pointers in six minutes.
Evan Mobley, F, Cleveland Cavaliers
Semifinal: 6 points | 3-for-4 shooting
Grade: B
What stood out: After getting dunked over by Mac McClung to conclude Saturday’s dunk contest, Mobley got to do the dunking Sunday, with all three of his field goals coming above the rim — two of them off alley-oop lobs.
Cade Cunningham, G, Detroit Pistons
Semifinal: 5 points | 1 assist | 2-for-3 shooting
Grade: B
What stood out: In his All-Star Game debut, Cunningham went back and forth with Victor Wembanyama. Wembanyama got the better of the first clash at the rim, blocking a dunk attempt, but Cunningham was undeterred. He went hard to the rim and got a dunk. He also set up Evan Mobley with a lob.
Tyler Herro, G, Miami Heat
Semifinal: 6 points | 2-for-4 three-point attempts
Grade: B
What stood out: Fresh off winning Saturday’s 3-point contest, Herro fittingly began Sunday with the game’s first 3-pointer. He also knocked down a rainbow 3 in transition going to his left. But Herro might have gotten a bit too ambitious beyond the arc and missed his other two tries.
Honorary GM: Candace Parker
Coach: Jordan Ott, Cleveland Cavaliers assistant coach
Dalton Knecht, G, Los Angeles Lakers
Semifinal: 8 points | 2 rebounds | 3-for-6 shooting
Grade: B+
What stood out: Long-distance shooting from Knecht helped keep his team in the game early. Knecht hit a pair of 3s, one of them off a dribble-handoff, and tied for the team lead in points. Later, however, Knecht forced a 3 to try to make up ground and missed.
Jaylen Wells, F, Memphis Grizzlies
Semifinal: 2 points | 2 rebounds | 1-for-3 shooting
Grade: B-
What stood out: Playing limited minutes despite starting, Wells had a quiet night. His only score came on a pull-up jumper at the free throw line.
Zach Edey, C, Memphis Grizzlies
Semifinal: 2 points | 2 rebounds | 1-for-3 shooting
Grade: C+
What stood out: How Edey might match up with the smaller OGs — who had only one player (6-foot-11 Kevin Durant) taller than 6-8 — was one of the night’s more interesting matchups. The All-Stars used their athleticism to bother Edey, with Jayson Tatum tipping the ball away from him early and a double-team helping force a missed hook. Edey’s only score was a putback as he played a team-low three minutes.
Keyonte George, G, Utah Jazz
Semifinal: 3 points | 2 rebounds | 1-for-4 shooting
Grade: C-
What stood out: George opened the scoring with a 3-pointer … and then missed his next three shots, including an air ball from long distance with the game in the balance and a turnover that set up the winning score.
Stephon Castle, G, San Antonio Spurs
Semifinal: 6 points | 2 assists | 3-for-7 shooting
Grade: B-
What stood out: The MVP of the Rising Stars couldn’t make the same impact against All-Stars. Castle was 2-of-6 from the field before scoring without much resistance late in the game. The dunk contest runner-up nearly delivered one of the night’s highlights but couldn’t cuff a windmill attempt, bricking it hard off the rim. Castle also contributed a pair of steals.
Ryan Dunn, F, Phoenix Suns
Semifinal: 8 points | 2 rebounds | 3-for-5 shooting
Grade: B+
What stood out: Coming off the bench, Dunn tied for team-high honors with eight points, including a full-speed and-1 with Shaq’s OGs on a run. Dunn also used his wingspan to get a steal that he converted into a layup. He also made a corner 3 among his three 3-point attempts.
Amen Thompson, F, Houston Rockets
Semifinal: 4 points | 4 assists | 2-for-4 shooting
Grade: B+
What stood out: Added to Friday’s Rising Stars-winning squad by GM Candace Parker, Thompson led the team in assists off the bench, including a hit-ahead pass to Knecht for a dunk and a drop pass to Trayce Jackson-Davis. Thompson also came close to producing a highlight with a windmill layup attempt that he missed.
Trayce Jackson-Davis, C, Golden State Warriors
Semifinal: 2 points | 1 assist
Grade: B
What stood out: Jackson-Davis was on the wrong end of one of the night’s most memorable plays, when Warriors teammate Stephen Curry stepped back to make a 3 over him. Jackson-Davis converted at the rim on his only shot attempt.
To kick off All-Star Saturday night, Cavs forward Evan Mobley joined Damian Lillard, Steve Nash and Dwyane Wade as multitime winners of the skills challenge. Mobley, Jarrett Allen and Darius Garland won the title during the 2022 All-Star Weekend in front of home fans in Cleveland, but this time he teamed up with fellow All-Star Donovan Mitchell to add a second team win in San Francisco.
The skills challenge was the most memorable for Paul and Wembanyama after they were disqualified for not making valid shot attempts. Check out our grades from the competitors’ performances from the skills challenge.
Grade: A-
What stood out: Mitchell and Mobley edged their way into the finals despite Mobley struggling badly with his shooting in the first round, but aced the course in their second time through. Mobley missed his chest pass, having to double back as he did in the first round, which was the only blemish for Team Cavs in the final. Mitchell stood out with a one-handed pass on target and finished in under 30 seconds, giving Cleveland a winning time of 1:00.4.
Grade: B
What stood out: The home team dominated the opening round, racing through the course in barely more than a minute thanks to strong shooting by Moody and Green banking in a 3-pointer. Facing more pressure in the final after Team Cavs set the time to beat, Team Warriors got off to a strong start with Moody racing through the course in half a minute but Green was unable to complete all the skills. He missed all three of his passes at the first target, then knocked the balls out of the first shooting rack in his hurry. Time ran out with Green still on the other end of the court from the finish line.
Grade: B-
What stood out: Going after the disqualified Spurs probably worked against the top two picks in this year’s draft, who didn’t fully break a sweat with no time to beat. No. 1 pick Risacher did well enough to advance to give his squad a shot at the final, but No. 2 pick Sarr was a little slower through the course and that ended up costing Team Rooks as it finished a little more than a second behind Team Cavs.
Grade: F
What stood out: The Spurs outthought themselves by trying to game the skills challenge. Wembanyama, who took credit for the idea afterward, and Paul just tossed up “shots” as quickly as possible at the three shooting stations — coming nowhere within the vicinity of the basket — and were disqualified for not making valid attempts.
Frankly, the NBA deserves an F here too. The fact that making a shot is irrelevant to a timed competition was always an obvious problem with the obstacle-course format and one that would easily be rectified by adding a time penalty (say, five seconds) for a competitor who misses all three required shots.
That said, if you’re going to violate the spirit of the competition, you better at least make sure you’re playing by the written rules. Paul and Wembanyama paid for it with no shot to redeem themselves.
Saturday’s NBA 3-point contest saw Damian Lillard fall short of history as his quest for a three-peat ended in the opening round, while Buddy Hield made some by tying the record with a first-round score of 31 points.
In the end, however, it was Tyler Herro who was crowned 3-point champion by putting up 24 points in the final round. Here are my grades for all eight of Saturday’s competitors.
Final
Tyler Herro: 24
Buddy Hield: 23
Darius Garland: 17
First Round
Buddy Hield: 31
Darius Garland: 19
Tyler Herro: 19
Jalen Brunson:18
Damian Lillard: 18
Cade Cunningham: 16
Cameron Johnson 14
Norman Powell: 14
Grade: A-
What stood out: Credit Herro for saving his best for last. Herro’s opening-round score of 19 was barely good enough to advance, and that required him to make 11 of his last 16 shots — including becoming the first player all night to make the deep 3. Leading off in the finals, Herro made both his deep shots and went four-of-five from the top of the key. That set the bar high at 24 and proved enough to make Herro the winner.
Grade: A-
What stood out: Although he lost the finals this time, the 2020 3-point winner made history in front of home fans with his opening-round score of 31. That tied Warriors teammate Stephen Curry in 2021 and Tyrese Haliburton in 2023 for the highest score in a single round, albeit benefiting from the addition of the moneyball rack and the deep shots that have inflated scores since they were introduced in 2014 and 2020, respectively.
Like Haliburton, Hield was unable to translate a historic first round into hardware. He captured the excitement of the arena with a late run. Needing to make all his remaining shots, Hield hit his moneyball from the left wing and his first three attempts from the left corner. Moments like that are why the 3-point contest should be the anchor leg of All-Star Saturday night rather than the dunk contest. Alas, Hield missed his fourth attempt from his moneyball rack, meaning he finished one point behind Herro.
Grade: B+
What stood out: Wearing the No. 22 his father, Winston, sported for seven seasons in the NBA (including two-plus with the Warriors), Garland tied for the second-best score, putting up 24 points in the first round thanks to eight makes in his final 10 attempts. Garland had less success in the finals, putting up a score of 19, and was last of the three competitors.
Grade: B-
What stood out: Brunson got off to the strongest start of anyone in Round 1, hitting four of his five shots beginning in the left corner, including the moneyball. Brunson also made the first of two deep 3s but did not finish strong. He made just two shots from his moneyball rack in the right corner. One more make would have sent Brunson to the finals and knocked out eventual winner Tyler Herro.
Grade: B-
What stood out: If we were grading on a curve using past results, Lillard would have scored even worse. The two-time defending champ looked well on his way to another finals appearance after making his first four shots from the left wing, meaning he needed to hit just three of his final six attempts. Instead, Lillard missed his moneyball attempt and went 2-for-5 from his moneyball rack in the left corner. That left Lillard one point shy of advancing.
Grade: C+
What stood out: Despite a casual approach, Cunningham got through all of his racks. That was important because the Pistons’ front man made four of five from the left corner, both his moneyball rack and the final one. That pushed Cunningham briefly into contention for advancing, but he was never a serious contender.
Grade: C
What stood out: A late surge helped Johnson avoid finishing last. Through the first three racks, Johnson had just five points, but he went 4-for-5 from his moneyball rack on the right wing and then went 3-for-5 from the right corner. One factor that worked against Johnson was that he missed all four of his regular moneyball shots.
Grade: C
What stood out: Powell looked like he was heating up when he knocked down his final four shots from the left wing, but he couldn’t continue that success on his final moneyball rack. Powell went 2-for-5 from the left corner, finishing with 14 points to tie for last with Johnson.
After a lackluster start, Saturday’s slam dunk contest put on a show as rookie Stephon Castle pushed two-time defending champion Mac McClung to the final showdown. Despite near-perfect scores for Castle in the finals, McClung went 4-for-4 with 50-point dunks to become the first player in the history of the dunk contest to win three years in a row. After the night’s bounciest competition, we graded all four of Saturday’s competitors.
Grade: A
What stood out: On a night where the dunk contest celebrated the 25 years since Vince Carter delivered his renowned 2000 contest, with Carter commentating on the TNT broadcast, McClung delivered a worthy contender for the all-time rankings.
All four of McClung’s dunks earned perfect scores, and rightfully so. He started by doing Blake Griffin’s winning dunk from the 2011 contest one better by jumping over a Kia while grabbing the ball from an individual stationed inside the sunroof and reverse dunking it. Notably, Griffin jumped over the hood of the car, while McClung cleared the full body of the vehicle.
To cap his performance, and perhaps his dunk contest career, McClung jumped over 6-foot-11 All-Star Evan Mobley, who was standing on a platform to elevate him beyond 7 feet. (Mobley ducked, but McClung still got way up.) Grabbing the ball off Mobley’s shoulders, McClung hung in the air long enough to hit the ball off the rim and raise it back up to finish.
In the first round, McClung jumped over his assistant and turned to dunk the other direction — his most modest effort of the night — and then positioned his helper on a moving hoverboard and grabbed the ball to windmill with his right hand while simultaneously dunking home a second ball with the left.
If he wasn’t there already, Saturday cemented McClung’s place among the great competitors in dunk contest history.
Grade: A-
What stood out: Castle made McClung work in the final round. Castle got a perfect score — the only other player to receive one all night besides McClung — on his final dunk by going behind his back from right to left (his offhand) and cuffing the finish while completing a 180-degree spin. Castle fell just short of McClung’s standard on his first dunk of the final when it took him multiple attempts before completing an ambitious dunk, taking the ball out of the bottom of the net and windmilling between his legs.
Had Castle made that dunk on his first attempt, it might have merited a 50. It would be difficult to argue Castle was the deserving winner, however, particularly because his first-round dunks — a 180-degree windmill and a pass off the backboard for a reverse windmill — had a lower degree of difficulty.
Grade: C
What stood out: A solid second dunk — a reverse windmill from a pass off the side of the backboard — got Buzelis a score (47.4) in the same range as Stephon Castle’s pair of dunks. By that point, however, Buzelis had effectively been eliminated because he missed all three attempts in his first dunk. Buzelis couldn’t put down a bounce between his legs from the baseline. After two failed attempts, the Bulls’ rookie would have been wise to try something easier to finish.
Grade: C
What stood out: Jackson was unable to put down his original attempt on either dunk. He tried several more exciting options on his first dunk before settling for a two-hand windmill that was more of a game dunk than a competition one. After failing to complete a pass off the side of the backboard for a 360-degree finish on his second dunk, Jackson pivoted to cuffing a powerful windmill. That earned him third place and would have required Castle missing to give Jackson a shot at the finals.
Team C, selected and co-coached by Naismith Basketball Hall of Famer Chris Mullin, will advance to Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game with WNBA legend Candace Parker taking over as honorary GM of what will become Candace’s Rising Stars.
On experience and talent, this team will be outclassed Sunday. But the players developed strong chemistry during two wins Friday, and if they play hard, they could present a challenge if their opponents (Shaq’s OGs, featuring MVPs Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and LeBron James) treat Sunday like an exhibition rather than a competition.
In her role as GM, Parker chose Amen Thompson to join Friday’s winners for Sunday’s game. The second-year Houston Rockets forward was the right pick to complement this group and immediately becomes Team Candace’s strongest player.
Here are the grades for each player from the four Rising Stars teams.
Honorary coach: Chris Mullin
Stephon Castle, G, San Antonio Spurs
Final: 12 points | 3 points | 2 assists
Semifinal: 6 points | 4 rebounds | 4 assists
Grade: A
What stood out: An easy choice as MVP, Castle scored nearly half of his team’s 25 points in the final, getting Team C going after a slow start. Castle was equally active in the semifinal, where he distributed more than scored, including a touchdown pass to a streaking Jaylen Wells. He sent Team C to the finals with a pull-up step-back to reach the target score. He also had eight of the team’s first 10 points en route to victory.
Ryan Dunn, F, Phoenix Suns
Final: 3 points | 1 block | 1 rebound
Semifinal: 2 points | 3 assists
Grade: B+
What stood out: Enjoying the opportunity to expand the 3-and-D role he usually plays for the Suns, Dunn had three assists in the semifinal — matching his career high as a rookie. That included two passes to set up cutters at the rim. Dunn was less of a factor in the final but did knock down a 3 as part of the victory.
Zach Edey, C, Memphis Grizzlies
Final: 2 points | 2 rebounds
Semifinal: 4 points | 2 rebounds
Grade: B
What stood out: At 7-foot-4, Edey’s size made him difficult to stop in this setting. He made three of his four shot attempts, including a hook in the post and a putback dunk to open the scoring in the final.
Keyonte George, G, Utah Jazz
Final: 3 points | 3 rebounds
Semifinal: 10 points | 2-4 3PT
Grade: B+
What stood out: Before making a 3 in the final to secure Team C’s victory, George also had a key score in the semifinal. George got fouled while shooting and made two free throws to get Team C within one basket of winning. George made 3-of-7 from 3-point range and also got back on defense to steal an outlet pass with the win in the balance.
Trayce Jackson-Davis, F, Golden State Warriors
Final: 1 rebound
Semifinal: 6 points | 3-for-4 shooting
Grade: B
What stood out: As a screener in pick-and-rolls, Jackson-Davis contributed in the final without making any impact in the box score. He got more opportunities to finish in the semifinal, going 3-of-4 from the field with a lob dunk in transition.
Dalton Knecht, G, Los Angeles Lakers
Final: 5 points | 2 rebounds
Semifinal: 7 points | 4 rebounds | 4 assists
Grade: B+
What stood out: Team C set up Knecht for a 3-pointer coming off a screen on the opening play of the semifinal. He finished with seven points and four assists, including a tomahawk dunk. Knecht found it tougher in the final, missing three of his five shots from deep, but had a scoop layup in transition and a deflection to set up a rare steal.
Jaylen Wells, F, Memphis Grizzlies
Final: 5 points | 2-of-5 shooting
Semifinal: 5 points | 2 rebounds
Grade: B-
What stood out: The lone Team C starter to go scoreless in the final, Wells had a more memorable semifinal. He leaked out for a dunk set up by Castle and also made a deep 3-pointer, his only one of the night.
Honorary coach: Jeremy Lin
JD Davison, G, Maine Celtics
Final: 2 rebounds | 1 assist
Semifinal: 5 points | 2-for-5 shooting
Grade: B-
What stood out: For one of the G League’s leading scorers, it was a quiet night for Davison, who was scoreless in the final. He made a 3-pointer in the early stages of the semifinals and just one more basket the rest of the game, finishing 2-of-7 across both games from the field.
Mac McClung, G, Osceola Magic
Final: No major stats
Semifinal: 5 points | 2 assists
Grade: B-
What stood out: Team G League put the ball in McClung’s hands early and he had a couple of assists, one of them to Leonard Miller for a dunk. Aside from a strong right-hand drive for a layup, however, McClung wasn’t a major factor as a scorer. And the two-time defending dunk champion didn’t give us any preview of his quest for a three-peat Saturday night.
Bryce McGowens, F, Rip City Remix
Final: 2 points
Semifinal: 12 points | 5-for-9 shooting | 2-for-4 three-point attempts
Grade: A-
What stood out: A 3-pointer from McGowens, who surprisingly had been on the bench for crunch time leading up to the final possession, sent Team G League to the final. McGowens had 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting overall in the semifinal, then came off the bench in the final, making his only shot attempt.
Leonard Miller, F, Iowa Wolves
Final: 5 points | 2 blocks | 2 assists
Semifinal: 14 points | 7 rebounds
Grade: A-
What stood out: The leading scorer for Team G League in the semifinal, Miller shot 7-of-9 from the field and led the team in rebounding. Miller was especially effective in transition, outrunning the defense, and also had a powerful dunk. Miller memorably made a 3-pointer over Edey in the final and also blocked a 3, but missed five of his seven shot attempts.
Dink Pate, G, Mexico City Capitanes
Final: 5 points | 2-for-6 shooting
Semifinal: 4 points | 7 rebounds
Grade: B-
The lone draft-eligible player to participate Friday — he’s projected to go early in the second round by ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo — Pate flashed NBA-caliber athleticism but also showed room for improvement in his shot selection. Pate’s powerful tip dunk was impressive, as was a runner over Edey. Overall, however, he shot 4-of-13 and made just one of five 3-point attempts, including two that missed the rim. Pate, 18, has time to develop his shot selection.
Reed Sheppard, G, Rio Grande Valley Vipers
Final: 0-1 FG
Semifinal: 2 assists | 0-for-3 shooting
Grade: C-
What stood out: The No. 3 overall pick, playing for Team G League after putting up a 49-point outing in a brief three-game stint with the Vipers, wasn’t as effective Friday night. Sheppard was quiet on offense and missed all four of his shot attempts. Though his team won, Sheppard will hear from Houston Rockets teammate Amen Thompson about getting beat in the post for a dunk.
Pat Spencer, G, Santa Cruz Warriors
Final: 2 points | 3 rebounds
Semifinal: 2 rebounds
Grade: C+
What stood out: After going scoreless with a turnover in the backcourt during the semifinal, Spencer bounced back as a starter in the final. He had three of Team G League’s five offensive rebounds and cut backdoor for a layup.
Honorary coach: Mitch Richmond
Matas Buzelis, F, Chicago Bulls
Semifinal: 4 points | 2 rebounds
Grade: C+
What stood out: We got the full Buzelis experience off the bench, highlighted by a powerful dunk and a steal that led to a pass over his back to Amen Thompson for a layup. On the flip side, Buzelis air-balled a 3-pointer and got out of control while driving late, resulting in a costly turnover.
Toumani Camara, F, Portland Trail Blazers
Semifinal: 8 points | 2 rebounds
Grade: B
What stood out: It was an eventful night for Camara, who made an early 3-pointer after a jab step and got Team M within one possession of victory by making three late free throws. In between, Camara couldn’t finish twice after getting to the rim on nice cuts.
Bub Carrington, G, Washington Wizards
Semifinal: 5 points | 4 assists
Grade: A-
What stood out: Splitting time as the point guard, Carrington handed out a game-high four assists and made both shots he took — one of them a 3-pointer.
Bilal Coulibaly, F, Washington Wizards
Semifinal: 4 points | 3 rebounds
Grade: B
What stood out: Playing alongside his Wizards teammate Carrington, Coulibaly showcased his athleticism on a couple of impressive plays. Coulibaly made a layup on a cut and later followed his miss to finish with a dunk. However, Coulibaly didn’t have quite enough control midair to finish a lob from Amen Thompson for what could have been a spectacular dunk.
Julian Strawther, G, Denver Nuggets
Semifinal: 3 points | 2 points
Grade: C+
What stood out: Strawther shot three 3-pointers in his eight minutes, making one of them. Another attempt was wide right, hitting hard off the backboard.
Amen Thompson, F, Houston Rockets
Semifinal: 11 points | 5-for-6 shooting
Grade: A-
What stood out: Despite three turnovers, Thompson would have been the MVP had his team won its semifinal. He scored a team-high 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting, including an unorthodox play where Thompson intended to set up his twin brother Ausar for a lob but made the shot instead. Amen Thompson also overpowered his Rockets teammate Reed Sheppard in the post for a dunk, and had another dunk to move Team M within a point of victory. The strategy was questionable: Team M would have won by making a 3 and never got the ball back.
Ausar Thompson, F, Detroit Pistons
Semifinal: 4 points | 2 assists
Grade: C-
What stood out: There were good moments for Thompson, who seemed to float to the basket to finish a dunk and drew a foul when his twin brother Amen was trying to lob him the ball. Ausar Thompson made that free throw to complete the three-point play, but missed all four late in the game.
Honorary coach: Tim Hardaway
Anthony Black, G, Orlando Magic
Semifinal game: 4 points | 4 assists | 2-for-5 shooting
Grade: B
What stood out: Black handed out a team-high four assists, including a nice feed to Gradey Dick for a layup. Black also had a hard take for a layup but missed three shot attempts.
Tristan da Silva, F, Orlando Magic
Semifinal: 5 points | 2-for-2 shooting
Grade: B+
What stood out: Coming off the bench, da Silva gave his team a nice lift. He quickly found teammate Black with a hit-ahead pass for a layup and knocked down a 3 in transition to make things interesting.
Gradey Dick, G, Toronto Raptors
Semifinal: 12 points | 5-for-7 shooting
Grade: A
What stood out: Dick was the standout for the losing team in the first semifinal, scoring a game-high 12 points on 5-of-7 shooting. Dick knocked down a pair of 3s and also drove to the hoop for a layup after Dalton Knecht overplayed on the perimeter in pursuit of a steal.
Jaime Jaquez Jr., F, Miami Heat
Semifinal: 4 points | 2 rebounds
Grade: B-
What stood out: It was a quiet game for Jaquez, whose only bucket came on a wide-open 3 when the defense didn’t close out on him after an offensive rebound. Jaquez also set up da Silva with a lookaway pass.
Brandin Podziemski, G, Golden State Warriors
Semifinal: 2 points | 3 assists
Grade: C
What stood out: Playing in front of home fans, Podziemski couldn’t get much going. He handed out three assists, but missed three of his four shot attempts. The lone exception came when Podziemski snuck in for an offensive rebound and putback.
Zaccharie Risacher, F, Atlanta Hawks
Semifinal: 4 points | 2 rebounds
Grade: B
What stood out: The No. 1 overall pick missed his first two shot attempts, one of which came on an end-to-end drive, before getting in the scorebook with a dunk on a nice cut. He followed that with a difficult off-hand finish over Zach Edey.
Alex Sarr, C, Washington Wizards
Semifinal: 3 points | 1-for-2 shooting
Grade: B-
What stood out: The 7-foot Sarr showed his versatility in the Rising Stars format. He brought the ball up and set up Gradey Dick’s 3-pointer with a dribble handoff, then made a 3 with Zach Edey in his face. Sarr was less impactful as a traditional big, with just one rebound and no blocks.
SAN FRANCISCO — The NBA’s refreshed All-Star Game format finished with a familiar result for Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry: being presented with the Kobe Bryant Trophy as the All-Star MVP.
Curry scored 12 points in Team OGs’ 41-25 victory Sunday in the first-to-40 finale against the Global Stars, to win the league’s new round-robin tournament to cap of the festivities.
With Team OGs, coached by Shaquille O’Neal, up 23-15 in the championship game, Curry showed off his otherworldly shooting range by hitting a 3 from half court. It put his group up by double digits and ignited the Chase Center crowd, which cheered on their hometown star. With no clear-cut MVP for the night until Curry’s half-court heave, the guard’s teammates kept feeding him the ball — encouraging the league’s all-time 3-point leader to keep shooting — and he delivered two more 3s to give his team an overwhelming 39-21 lead.
Jayson Tatum finished it off with a dunk to hit the target score and bring his scoring total to 15 points.
“It was one of those little flurries, just having fun,” Curry said of his 3-point barrage. “The half-court shot, I was going to take one at some point. [Nikola] Jokic was picking me up at half court, which was hilarious.”
And the All-Star Game, which recently had been become a bit of a joke, with both teams combining to score 397 points in Indianapolis last year in a contest devoid of much competitive spirit, inched closer back toward respectability.
“I think it was a good step in the right direction to reinvigorate the game in some way,” Curry said of the format, which split the 12 Eastern Conference and 12 Western Conference All-Stars into teams of eight, going against a fourth team comprising eight first- and second-year players who won the Rising Stars game Friday night.
Curry received 12 of the 14 votes for MVP, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Tatum receiving one apiece. It was the second All-Star MVP of Curry’s career. He won it in Cleveland in 2022, scoring 50 points (while shooting 16-for-27 from the 3-point line) to earn Team LeBron a 163-160 victory over Team Durant.
Curry acknowledged the new structure of the game is not conducive for an obvious MVP candidate to stand out.
“The format doesn’t allow for, like, a strong storyline to build,” Curry said.
Through the semifinal games, Gilgeous-Alexander — who scored 12 points on 5-for-5 shooting, including a clinching dunk to beat the Young Stars team 41-32 — was the lead MVP contender for the Global Stars. And Damian Lillard — who scored nine points on 3-for-5 shooting and ended it on a 27-foot pull-up 3 to win 42-35 over the Rising Stars — was in pole position for the OGs. Lillard, who won MVP last year by scoring 39 points for the East and going 11-for-23 from 3, said the award is more ephemeral now.
“Anytime you’re going to look at the MVP, you want to look at what jumped out,” Lillard said. “In this type of format, nobody is going to have 50 points, or 30 points is even going to be hard to do unless you shoot it every time and make every shot. But you look at what jumps out. When was the crowd the loudest? What jumped off the floor? And that’s probably who your MVP is going to be. So, watching the game, it was like, ‘I’m pretty sure Steph is going to win it.’ … I don’t know how many points he had, it couldn’t have been that much, but I think it was the eye test.”
Kyrie Irving, a fellow member of the OGs team, echoed Lillard’s endorsement of Curry.
“It’s easy to feed the hot guy, man and once he hit his first 3, basically every time we were looking for him,” Irving said. “When he’s in his hometown and playing in front of his home crowd, we all know what that means as an NBA player, as his peer. So, we’re not going to get in the way of that, man.”
Curry became the 15th player in league history to win All-Star MVP more than once and the 17th player in league history to win the award when his NBA team was hosting the event.
“The hosting experience was unbelievable,” Curry said when asked about the Warriors welcoming the All-Star events in both Oakland and San Francisco. “I’m not going to complain about being tired or exhausted. This is an honor and a blessing to be able to celebrate and share this beautiful Bay Area that’s been a part of my life for the last 16 years and the basketball history and culture that’s here and the amazing fans that are here and the impact that the game being here has had on both cities.”
ESPN
EDITOR’S PICKS
Curry leads OGs to win, captures 2nd ASG MVP
7hDave McMenamin
NBA All-Star Weekend 2025: Best moments from the Bay Area
9hESPN staff
LeBron sits out All-Star Game, ending 20-year run
7hDave McMenamin
ALL-STAR GAME
Winners: Shaq’s OGs
Runner-up: Chuck’s Global Stars
Semifinalist: Kenny’s Young Stars
Semifinalist: Candace’s Rising Stars
SKILLS COMPETITION
Winners: Team Cavs (Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley)
Runners-up: Team Warriors (Draymond Green and Moses Moody)
Third place: Team Rooks (Alex Sarr and Zaccharie Risacher)
Fourth place: Team Spurs (Chris Paul and Victor Wembanyama)
3-POINT COMPETITION
Winner: Tyler Herro, Miami Heat
Runner-up: Buddy Hield, Golden State Warriors
Third place: Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers
First-rounders:
Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks
Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
Cam Johnson, Brooklyn Nets
Norman Powell, LA Clippers
DUNK CONTEST
Winner: Mac McClung, Osceola Magic (G League)
Runner-up: Stephon Castle, San Antonio Spurs
Matas Buzelis, Chicago Bulls
Andre Jackson Jr., Milwaukee Bucks
RISING STARS
Winner: Team C
Runner-Up: Team G League
Semifinalist: Team M
Semifinalist: Team T
EDITOR’S PICKS
Players call All-Star Game stoppages ‘not ideal’
7hMichael C. Wright
NBA All-Star grades: Curry’s MVP, Mac’s dunk three-peat, and that Wemby-CP3 miscue
7hKevin Pelton
NBA All-Star Weekend 2025: Best moments from the Bay Area
9hESPN staff
Final Scores:
SAN FRANCISCO — You can’t manufacture soul.
We’re a long way from the All-Star Game being a referendum on LeBron James’ clutchness — remember that 2012 game in Orlando when he passed up taking a winning shot, with Kobe Bryant in his face, only to throw an errant pass to Carmelo Anthony and Bryant berating him for missing the moment?
This year, James barely bothered to show up at all, announcing during his news conference he was resting his ailing foot and ankle in preparation for the Lakers’ stretch run, withdrawing from Sunday night’s activities.
It wasn’t that long ago when we had irrational conversations about a meaningless game, but it showed there was passion from everybody and it spilled into the culture.
It might’ve been toxic, but we all agreed on wanting what was best for the present and future of the game. Now, we can’t agree on much except this weekend isn’t what it used to be, and nobody knows how to get it back.
It’s almost fitting this All-Star Game took place in San Francisco rather than Oakland. The essence, the lifeblood, the competition feels rooted in Oakland — and the fans who watched the players practice there Saturday afternoon showed every ounce of it.
Saturday night and Sunday night was at sprawling Chase Center, a state-of-the-art facility that has all the amenities, luxury boxes and opulence that comes with being in the heart of Silicon Valley.
And at times, you could barely feel the energy inside the building, except for few precious moments. Too nice to try, too cool to compete.
Nobody wants to be embarrassed, nobody wants to be on X screens or the Instagram streets.
“We got our pride on the line every night,” Kevin Durant said. “Somebody gets dunked on or crossed up, it’s going to be on House of Highlights. So I don’t think that will be a reason why guys won’t play.”
James has taken a little criticism for not participating in the dunk contest, and maybe that’s where the coolness started, but he’s given more to the game than just about anyone — and continues to do so as he gets closer to hitting the silver anniversary mark in the league, so continuing to criticize him seems silly.
But if it started there, it has reached a crescendo recently. That’s why the dunk contest had Mac McClung winning for the third straight year — what’s he got to lose?
That’s why the Rising Stars were pushing Team Shaq’s OGs nearly to the limit because all they had was everything to gain. The players can’t be incentivized with money, because the salaries have gotten exorbitant and stand to rise even more with the new media-rights deal — and they’re worth it, mind you.
The players show extraordinary feats of athleticism and skill on a daily basis, and perhaps it isn’t talked about enough, with the toxic conversation surrounding the game turning the perception of it into one of boredom, even if it’s anything but.
But the excellence of basketball isn’t up for debate here, nor should it be. The game takes plenty of hits from all sides, and the appreciation for what goes into being excellent has gotten a bit lost.
Perhaps All-Star Weekend is the casualty of such conversation, the players fighting back from constant criticism.
Maybe.
Perhaps the way out of this tornado is for the standard-bearers — like LeBron, Steph and KD — to age out. Just like the NBA world is seemingly waiting for the next generation to take their place and send the mainstays to the retirement home in the games that count, it’s waiting for Anthony Edwards or Victor Wembanyama or someone, anyone, to turn this game on its head.
To compete so hard that it shames the other players into doing the same. That could very well be the only solution here, because it’s not about formats or target scores or any other hokey invention.
And let’s be honest, too, some guys would rather spend a few days in Cabo to hit a quick reset than more days of obligations and appearances during an arduous season.
“Is it extra work? Sure. [But] it’s an honor every time your name is called,” Edwards said. “It’s my third time so, I’m super happy. But it is extra work because everything is mandatory.”
It’s easy to place this at the feet of commissioner Adam Silver. Nobody likes the bosses, so, of course, he’s a convenient target, and more than anyone can imagine, he’s also a true fan of the game, so he often puts his finger on the scale without apology.
The league office has listened to the players over the years, from the Elam Ending to the players picking their own teams a week before or live in the pregame, catering, cajoling and even begging them to play with a level of effort we usually see in those summer videos with Rico Hines or at Life Time Fitness.
And yet, we continue to get different variations of the same All-Star slop, because the care factor isn’t high enough for the players — and Silver can’t order them to put forth a playoff effort or even October preseason effort.
“I feel like everyone is grown men. You cannot force anybody to play hard if he doesn’t want to,” said Giannis Antetokounmpo — out with a calf injury— in his pregame news conference Sunday. “For me, when I come to this weekend, I come to compete against the best. I take my pregame nap. I get my treatment the night before. I don’t go out. I have my pregame meal. I treat it like a game because I want to give my ‘A’ game against the best players in the world.”
There’s gotta be a way to serve all of the objectives that come with an All-Star Weekend — and before anyone says, “It’s just an exhibition,” remember it’s the league’s biggest moneymaker outside of the playoffs and Finals.
There’s no negative judgment on the entertainment element. Raphael Saadiq, En Vogue and E-40 all represent the Bay Area and put on great shows, and we’re a week removed from the Super Bowl, the crown jewel of everything in sports, having a halftime show that put Broadway musicals to shame.
The clutching of pearls and behaving as if this should just be a game and nothing more is silly. You can accept and embrace entertaining an increasingly fickle crowd, both in the arena and those watching at home, without forgetting the game itself.
“Paying homage and giving honor to [TNT’s] Kenny [Smith], Shaq [O’Neal], Chuck [Barkley] and Ernie [Johnson], for them representing the game of basketball in their way for, what, three decades,” Curry said of the odd in-game ceremony to honor the TNT legends. “It felt like the game kind of got in the way a little bit, which was different.”
The NBA isn’t making change after change just for the sake of it. It wants the players to believe in it, because once they do the people will follow.
Curry was part of a group that worked with the league on this new format, and like everything, there’s unintended consequences like getting cold in between games or having Kevin Hart annoy us all with his hijinks.
“Obviously there was a lot of conversation around the fourth team and the Rising Stars,” Curry said. “The All-Star experience on Sunday is very sacred, and you have to work your way into that. But I think it was a good step in the right direction to reinvigorate the game in some way, and then you tinker with it again next year and see what changes you can make.”
That fourth team wouldn’t be here if the current players treated the game with the reverence it’s due, or if the players showed the game itself was enough.
They’ll keep tinkering, they’ll keep trying, but nothing will change until someone decides to … try.
2025 NBA All-Star Game highlights: MVP Steph Curry leads Team Shaq’s OGs to victory
There was no Eastern Conference vs. Western Conference this year. The new-look NBA All-Star Game debuted Sunday night with a tournament-style format in which four teams made up of eight players faced off in three games.
Steph Curry, on his home court, led “Team Shaq” to victory and earned MVP honors. LeBron James, with his record-setting 21st All-Star nod, was expected to play alongside Curry, but he was a late scratch due to ankle soreness.
In the final, Team Shaq’s OGs topped the global superstardom of “Team Chuck,” which boasted three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokić and Victor Wembanyama, who made his All-Star debut.
Before that, Curry and Company held off “Team Candace,” the winning squad from the Rising Stars competition. In the first game, Team Chuck defeated Team Kenny, highlighted by some of the NBA’s best young talent, including 3-Point Contest winner Tyler Herro.
If you missed the fun from Saturday’s events, we’ve got you covered here.
For all the action from Sunday’s NBA All-Star Game, check out all the highlights below.
As if there were any doubt, Steph Curry was named the 2025 NBA All-Star Game MVP:
It was the second time in his career that Curry has won the award, but this time was extra special because he got to do it in front of his home crowd at Chase Center. In his two games Sunday night, Curry recorded 20 points, 10 boards, three steals and two assists. All 12 of his points in the final came on 3-pointers.
What a six-month run it’s been for Curry, who helped Team USA bring home the Olympic gold medal in August and then led the OGs to a win in the first (and only?) mini-tournament in All-Star Game history.
Team Shaq’s OGs picked up where they left off in their first game, racing out to an 11-0 lead against Team Chuck’s Global Stars. After sitting on the sidelines for a bit, Team Chuck was ice cold to start, going 0-for-10 from the field.
Jayson Tatum, on the other hand, was red-hot for Team Shaq.
Then, after a loooooong delay so the “Inside the NBA” crew could bid one last farewell to the All-Star Game and fans at home could hear the “at B-K, have it your way” commercial for the 300th time, the action started back up.
Victor Wembanyama checked in and quickly made his presence felt.
Wemby led his team with 11 points, two of which came on a dunk on a ridiculous assist from Trae Young.
But, on Steph Curry’s court, was there any doubt who the star would be?
In the final stretch, he nailed a couple of threes, including a half-court shot and a nasty no-looker:
And then Tatum, who scored 15 points, put the final exclamation point on the festivities with a game-clinching dunk.
Team Shaq’s OGs beat Team Candace’s Rising Stars 42-35 to advance to the NBA All-Star Tournament final round, where Team Shaq will face Team Chuck’s Global Stars. Team Candace, which was comprised of first- and second-year NBA players, gave Team Shaq, a squad of bona-fide superstars, a run for its money.
Damian Lillard led the OGs with nine points, while Steph Curry added eight points. On his home court in the Chase Center, Curry hit two 3-point shots, giving him a total of 53 across 10 All-Star appearances, which is a record.
Lillard, who grew up across the bay in Oakland, California, drained two 3s late in the game to clinch the victory and lift Team Shaq into the final round.
Rookies Dalton Knecht and Ryan Dunn each scored eight points for Team Candace as it hung tough against Team Shaq one day after winning the Rising Stars Challenge.
Jaren Barajas, a fan, was randomly selected to compete against Milwaukee Bucks star Damian Lillard during Mr. Beast’s halftime challenge. If Jaren hit one 3-pointer before Lillard made three logo shots, the 18-year-old would secure the $100K prize.
Lillard made two of his attempts, putting Jaren in a high-pressure situation. With one more chance, Jaren was able to come through, knocking down a 3 before Lillard made his third one.
“This is going to mean the world to me, it’s going to help my family a lot and definitely my future,” he said. “Hopefully it’ll help me pay for my education, which it will.”
Then he added, “I just beat Damian Lillard.”
Team Chuck’s Global Stars beat Team Kenny’s Young Stars 41-32 in the opening round of the NBA All-Star Tournament. Oklahoma City guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led Team Chuck with 12 points and scored the clinching basket.
Team Chuck took a 32-27 lead after a pair of Trae Young layups. Young, who replaced Giannis Antetokounmpo (left calf strain), scored four points and added five assists.
San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama added two dunks to help extend Team Chuck’s lead. In his first All-Star appearance, Wembanyama had six points and four rebounds.
Darius Garland, Tyler Herro and Evan Mobley each had six points for the Young Stars, who were without Anthony Edwards. He was a last-second scratch with a groin issue.
Team Chuck will advance to play the winner of Team Candace’s Rising Stars and Team Shaq’s OG’s.
First up is Candace’s Rising Stars, the winners of Saturday’s 2025 Rising Stars Challenge.
Then there’s Chuck’s Global Stars, headlined by the Joker and Wemby.
Meet Kenny’s Young Stars … which you probably already know because who hasn’t heard of Jalen Brunson and Anthony Edwards?
Last but not least, Shaq introduced his OGs, alongside his pet, uh, robot dog.
LeBron James was set to become just the third player older than 40 to appear in the All-Star Game. However, James said before tip-off that he will sit out due to ankle soreness.
Last month, James was picked as an All-Star for the 21st season, which extended a record that he set last year.
No one will be replacing James, so Team Shaq will be down a man during the tournament.
Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the most talented basketball players to ever live, but Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has something the Greek Freak wants:
“Aura” is something Team Shaq’s OGs also have, despite LeBron James, sadly, being in street clothes:
