One other NBA All-Star Weekend is within the books, and as standard, it was an up-and-down expertise that attempted to please everybody and ended up disappointing most.
Listed below are the winners and losers from 2025 All-Star Weekend:
Winners
Steph Curry : Curry took residence his second All-Star MVP trophy whereas taking part in the a part of a gracious host. His crew gained, he hit a half-court shot and a turnaround three and even made Saturday’s observe thrilling with trick photographs.
It was precisely the type of efficiency the NBA desires from its stars: aggressive in attempting to win the video games, however with loads of flash and showmanship.
Mac McClung: The 26-year-old guard joined the pantheon of Dunk Contest greats by successful his third straight contest. He did a reverse dunk after leaping over a Kia, and which may have been solely his third-most spectacular dunk of the evening.
McClung could not have a future as an NBA participant, however he is an all-time dunk artist. Incomes all 50’s for his dunking is kind of a feat, and it is exhausting to argue any of these scores was undeserved.
Stephon Fort: The Spurs rookie guard was in all places on All-Star Weekend. He helped Chris Mullin’s crew advance out of the Rising Star spherical robin to play on Sunday, when his group of rookies and sophomores gave Shaq’s “OG’s” a run for his or her cash, with Fort contributing six factors, two assists and two steals. Fort additionally delivered a unbelievable dunk-contest efficiency, and this was seemingly solely the primary of many All-Star appearances for him.
Trae Young: Younger solely made the All-Star Recreation as a result of an damage to Giannis Antetokounmpo however proved to be an ideal All-Star participant. He is content material to distribute the ball to his star teammates as an alternative of taking a ton of photographs. Younger’s largest weak point is protection, which continues to be largely non-compulsory on All-Star Weekend, however his passing and fancy dribbling offers the sport extra layups and spectacular dunks and fewer long-range prayers.
Jayson Tatum: Tatum scored 21 factors within the semifinal and ultimate mixed, together with the game-winning dunk. He performed exhausting, confirmed off his abilities and gained the sport, precisely what the NBA desires from its superstars. He and the Boston Celtics could also be centered on repeating as champs, however Tatum and Jaylen Brown each introduced it on Sunday.
Raphael Saadiq: Saddiq oversaw a medley of Bay Space anthems starting from Metallica to Inexperienced Day to Souls Of Mischief with aplomb, all whereas wanting nowhere close to his 52 years of age. The tv manufacturing had its flaws, however the music portion was on level.
Losers
TNT: The ultimate All-Star Recreation to be broadcast on TNT featured far an excessive amount of self-congratulation, together with an prolonged tribute to “Inside The NBA” in the course of the ultimate that was longer than the sport itself. It was particularly baffling as a result of “Inside The NBA” is constant on subsequent season on ESPN.
Kevin Hart advised off-color jokes, the broadcasters snipped at one another as an alternative of describing the sport and TNT used 11 totally different broadcasters. The consequence was an overlong telecast with way more speaking than basketball.
LeBron James and Anthony Edwards: It is one factor to take a seat out the All-Star Recreation due to an damage. It is one other factor to drag out on the final second, too late for an damage alternative. James introduced that his sore foot and sore ankle would preserve him out of the competition roughly two hours earlier than the sport. Edwards’ absence appeared to be a thriller even to the announcers, who solely observed after Group Kenny misplaced with out him taking the court docket.
Nobody ought to begrudge the 40-year-old James for not eager to play. However make that call with some advance discover and let a deserving participant like Domantas Sabonis or Norman Powell get an All-Star alternative.
Donovan Mitchell: The Cavaliers guard shot 1-for-11 in his two video games whereas turning the ball over 3 times. His comfort? Defeating teammates Darius Garland and Evan Mobley within the semifinal to protect bragging rights.
Damian Lillard: It is exhausting to fault Lillard for his wonderful participation at All-Star Weekend, held throughout the Bay from his hometown of Oakland. However Lillard didn’t three-peat within the Three-Level Contest, shedding within the first spherical. Then, he misplaced a capturing contest throughout an interminable Mr. Beast promotion. Lastly, his crew gained within the ultimate, however Lillard, the reigning All-Star MVP, did not rating some extent in that contest. Not less than it was Dame Time on the finish of the semifinal.
Draymond Green: The Warriors energy ahead did not like that the All-Star Recreation concerned members of the Rising Stars, however Inexperienced’s intense bitterness and repeated criticism of the format got here off as indignant and bitter. Worst of all, he wasn’t humorous. Essentially the most attention-grabbing factor Inexperienced did was to guarantee a Warriors title, however that was outweighed by him insulting the NBA’s promising rookies and sophomores for 3 hours.
