The 2025 NBA All-Star Game will be a four-team, three-game tournament, the league announced Tuesday.
The new All-Star format will consist of three games taking place in one day on Feb. 16. Three of the teams will be made up by the 24 NBA All-Star selections, while the fourth team in the tournament will be the winner of the Rising Stars game — featuring rookies and second-year players — from earlier in the weekend.
There will be two semifinal games before a final, with the first team to reach 40 points winning each.
The league has tinkered with its All-Star event in the last few seasons with the intention of improving its competitive nature. Previous tweaks have included having player captains draft the teams instead of using the East vs. West format or having the game end with a target score instead of a timed fourth quarter.
The 2024 All-Star game was widely criticized for its lack of defensive effort. It was the first East vs. West game since 2017, and the East won 211-186 — the first time a team had broken 200 points in an All-Star game.
For this season’s version, after the 24 All-Stars are selected by a vote by fans, players and media, they will be drafted into three teams by honorary general managers Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith. WNBA legend Candace Parker will be the GM of the Rising Stars entrant.
The All-Star draft will take place Feb. 6.
There will be no change to the voting format, which is weighted 50% in favor of fans, 25% for players and 25% for media.
Each player on the championship-winning team will get $125,000, compared with $50,000 for second place and $25,000 for third and fourth place.
The 2025 All-Star Games will take place in San Francisco, the first time it has ever hosted the event.