2025 NBA All-Star Game Top Storylines 

The 2025 All-Star weekend is upon us and in the San Francisco Bay Area for the first time in 25 years. There is no secret the NBA is trying to find a formula to give fans the best entertainment value possible, as All-Star weekend has lost plenty of luster in recent seasons.

The NBA has tweaked its weekend over the years, from trying different events on all-star Saturday night, to trying to spice up the Slam Dunk contest and 3-Point Shootout.

This year, however, commissioner Adam Silver is taking a risk in implementing a completely new format for Sunday (8 pm ET/TNT). The event will still feature 24 all-stars, but will not be an East vs. West or team A vs. team B format. The all-stars will be divided into three eight-man teams.

The winning team from the 2025 Rising Stars Event (Friday, 9 pm ET/TNT) will be the fourth team to play on Sunday. There will be three games on Sunday played to 40 points: two semifinals then a championship game.

This is definitely something new and the fans will determine its success. There is no telling how this portion of all-star festivities is going to shake up. It could be a hit or it could flop and bring further criticism to an event that’s had its fair share over the past 10-15 years.

Top 3 Storylines

1. NBA Vets Have Plenty To Lose

What will make the new NBA All-Star format successful is competitiveness. It’s the element that has been lacking in the traditional NBA All-Star Game in recent years, and has bordered on ridiculous the past few years. The NBA All-Stars are the main culprits. They have to approach the game like it matters; the new format makes no difference if there is no competitive element.

The winning rising stars team has plenty to gain in terms of exposure, respect and confidence going into the second half of the season. It’s a key opportunity for rookies and second year players to make a name for themselves on a big stage.

Who will take advantage?

Plenty of folks think twins Ausar Thompson and Amen Thompson are prime candidates to really help themselves this weekend. The teams are mixed between rookies and sophomores, so it could be anyone and any team that steps forward.

Bottom line

It would be something if one of the up-and-coming teams beats one of the three eight-men units filled with traditional all-stars. It would be a bad look for the veterans. They have to make this moment work (not to mention one team is going to collect the prize pool of $1.8 million) or else it’s back to the drawing board.

It’s simple. Play hard, and it starts with the veteran all-stars.

2. Will This Weekend Be A Passing Of The Torch?

There is no secret the trio that led Team USA to the 2024 Olympic Gold Medal in France, the L.A. Laker’s LeBron James, the Golden State Warriors’ Steph Curry and the Phoenix Suns’ Kevin Durant, don’t have many all-star appearances left.

James could appear in one more and for Curry’s fans in Golden State, this will be the last time they’ll see him in an all-star setting in front of the home crowd.

The NBA is a strong game and still an overall strong product despite some broadcast viewing issues, but there has been some concern about a post-LeBron downturn.

Which stars will carry the league when he and Steph retire?

Are the veterans and fans going to embrace the newest wave of stars and are those younger stars going to carry the league? This weekend and how it turns out will give us some indication of what is to come. Denver’s Nikola Jokic has been the best overall player in the NBA the past few years, with stars such as Giannis Antetokounmpo not too far behind.

Will fans embrace young stars such as OKC’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards on a bigger stage? Are they ready to take that mantle, or will it happen more as a byproduct of team success?

NBA fans have to understand an era is coming to a close, and have to be ready to embrace a new one around the corner.

3. Are Fans Tired Of Mac McClung? Or Just The Dunk In General?

The 2018 Ballislife All-American has won the past two NBA Slam Dunk Contests, but can he make history by becoming the first to win the contest three consecutive times? The 2024 NBA G-League Most Valuable Player has a deep bag and is one of the most innovative contest-style dunkers of all-time.

He has a nice mixture of hang time, power and swag, but can he reach deep and win over the judges and fans for a third time? Or will fans tire of him and look to get behind new blood such as San Antonio rookie Stephon Castle?

McClung has given the Slam Dunk contest some pop, but how long can that last?

It’s ironic this is the 25th anniversary of Vince Carter turning out the 2000 Dunk Contest at the Oakland Coliseum. Vince was expected to shine, even against one of the strongest fields ever, and met and exceeded expectations.

He didn’t have to do the contest again

The point was made and as he later said, “that day changed my life forever”.

What people may forget is the dunk contest went on a two-year hiatus before Vinsanity’s legendary 2000 dunk contest performance. The event goes through ebbs and flows, but it will be interesting and entertaining to see if McClung can continue to captivate the audience. The only three time winner of the event is Nate Robinson, who didn’t do it three years in a row, and recently underwent a kidney transplant. (Hopefully the eventual winner gives him a shout out).

The two-time winners are Who’s Who of dunkers: Robinson, Jason Richardson, Zach LaVine, Harold Miner and the GOATS Dominque Wilkins and Michael Jordan.