The NBA once again changed its All-Star Game format, with a brand-new four-team tournament debuted in 2025. The organization experimented with different formats, including the All-Star Draft and target score ending. Eventually, they took a bold step to revamp the midseason show and restore competitive intensity. Basketball fans had to consider a new format, especially when predicting the game outcomes at GGBet.
How the 2025 NBA All-Star Game Works
For the first time, the All-Star Game was organized as a mini-tournament featuring four teams. The 24 NBA All-Stars were split into three eight-man teams. The Rising Stars Challenge (Team Chuck, Team Shaq, Team Kenny, and Team Candace) became the fourth team, featuring rookies and sophomores. The teams competed in a series of games played to 40 points. There were two semifinal matchups, with the winners meeting in the championship game to determine the All-Star Game champion.
Team Selection Process
The NBA kept its usual All-Star voting process. Fan votes (50%), player votes (25%), and media votes (25%) determined the starters. Coaches selected the reserves. TNT’s “Inside the NBA” crew of Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kenny Smith played the role of general managers. Each analyst drafted an eight-man roster from the All-Star pool. The fourth team was the winner of the Rising Stars Challenge and was eventually named Team Candace.
Game Format and Rules
The tournament changed its structure, but also some rules. The four teams competed in a single-elimination format. Each game was untimed and played to 40 points, with the first team to reach or exceed the total number of points. Two semifinal matchups determined the finalists. The championship game eventually decided the All-Star Game champion.
The NBA added a financial incentive to motivate players further. The total prize pool for the tournament was $1.8 million. The money was split between championship-winning team ($125,000 per player), second-place team ($50,000 per player), and third- and fourth-place teams ($25,000 per player).
What Caused the Change?
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has expressed concerns about the declining competitiveness of recent All-Star Games. After reverting to the East vs. West format in 2024, last year’s lackluster effort prompted the league to explore a more engaging format. Silver hinted at the new format last November, emphasizing the need to “excite the fans and also excite the players.”
Silver mentioned the overall disappointment with the last year’s events. It affected the league, as well as players taking part in the competition. The players’ association agreed that they required something new. Fortunately, extensive discussions resulted in the format change.
The NBA is hoping that this revamped format will bring back the excitement and competition that All-Star Games of the past have showcased. The event perfectly mimicked a fast-paced competition that resembled pickup games, where the winner moved on to single-elimination play. With the best players in the league going head-to-head in a more structured and competitive setting, fans enjoyed an action-packed night at the 2025 NBA All-Star Game.
