The 2025 NBA All-Star Game has come and gone, but something just felt… off.
The Inside the NBA tribute was a nice touch, but the league seemed like it was trying too hard to make the event work.
Right from the start, the All-Star Game—wait, I mean tournament—felt weird.
And if there’s a clear sign of that, it’s seeing LeBron James sitting on the sidelines. Sure, Kyrie Irving stepped in for Anthony Davis, and Trae Young replaced Giannis Antetokounmpo. But then both LeBron and Anthony Edwards were last-minute scratches. Edwards might have had a legit reason, but LeBron? We’re talking about a guy known for being a genetic freak, even at 40 years old. He’s one of the GOATs, the so-called LeGM, always involved in shaping the league’s direction.
Yes, maybe he really was injured. But missing his first All-Star Game in 20 years? Feels more like a statement about how he really feels about this new format.
The Young Stars team felt like they were the Mac McClung of the All-Star tournament. They looked so out of place but somehow, they have the underdog's chance of winning the tournament. It’s already strange enough that we now have an All-Star tournament in the history books, but how are they going to justify unproven rookies and sophomores walking away with the biggest prize?
At least the right team won, with Steph Curry of the OGs securing the All-Star MVP award, but I still can’t wrap my head around guys like Ryan Dunn, Jaylen Wells, and Dalton Knecht getting a shot at this moment. I’m not trying to disrespect the kids, but let’s be real—there are already online debates about the legitimacy of past All-Stars like Chris Gatling, Tyrone Hill, and Kyle Korver.
These guys getting their shot while legit stars like Domantas Sabonis, Norman Powell, Ja Morant, Devin Booker, Josh Hart, LaMelo Ball, and Bam Adebayo were either watching from home or sitting courtside, is a head-scratcher.
And let’s not even pretend this new format adds intensity or defense—who are we kidding? The only ones who seem to care about the prize are the young guys and Adam Silver.
Silver is trying way too hard to make the NBA a ratings draw. The NBA Cup already struggles with engagement, but at least some players are motivated by the prize money. Here? There’s still no defense, which tells you all you need to know.
Nobody’s buying into this format. The cap points system limits scoring, and the whole thing just feels like a glorified warmup.
The NBA is going through the same ratings struggle as the PBA. Attendance-wise, the league is still fine since teams are city-based—just like how MPBL squads draw bigger crowds than the PBA due to their strong local support. But the real issue? Networks just don’t see full games as must-watch TV anymore. With fans opting for highlight reels and condensed versions on YouTube and social media, the way people consume basketball is changing fast.
The NBA needs fresh superstars and diverse playing styles to regain its spark. Sure, draining 50 threes a night looks great on paper, but for many fans, it’s getting stale. Imagine if one team ran the dribble-drive, another revived Mike D’Antoni’s 14-seconds-or-less offense, another brought back the Triangle Offense, and the league eased up on physical play restrictions—basketball would feel dynamic again.
Otherwise, Adam Silver and company should just stop tinkering with the All-Star Game and let it be.