The lack of competition in recent All-Star games forced the NBA to partake in a new format for the 2025 iteration of the event. Letting go of the traditional matchup, the league is instead opting for a tournament-style extravaganza.
From the 24-man roster pool, three teams of eight were drafted, with a unique flavor to each. However, alongside the three All-Star teams, the NBA also decided to include the winner of the Rising Stars contest, with the rookies and sophomores of that team also having a chance to shine bright.
The Case for the Rising Stars in the All-Star Game
The three drafted teams, chosen by bona fide NBA legends like Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, and Kenny Smith, follow a distinct theme.
While O’Neal went with older, established veterans, Barkley chose to have an international touch on his roster. On the other hand, Smith chose some of the younger stars in the league.
However, with a team of young stars already in the mix, the need for a fourth team comprised of rookies and sophomores came about for two simple reasons.
The first is to make the tournament viably work without expanding the current pool of players who make the All-Star Game. The Rising Stars will face off against Shaq’s OGs, while Chuck’s International Stars battle it out against Kenny’s Young Stars.
Secondly, the matchup between Shaq’s OGs and the Rising Stars winners creates polar opposites of the age spectrum, with the rookies and sophomores going up against older NBA veterans like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant, which should breed for some natural competition and an intriguing dichotomy.
It could set the stage for a showdown and immediately drive interest in a competitive matchup between the two generations. Candace’s Rising Stars — headlined by WNBA legend Candace Parker — are set to compete against Shaq’s OGs in the second matchup of the knockout-style tournament.
Shaq’s OGs:
- Jaylen Brown | Boston Celtics
- Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors
- Anthony Davis | Dallas Mavericks (replaced by Kyrie Irving | Dallas Mavericks)
- Kevin Durant | Phoenix Suns
- James Harden | Los Angeles Clippers
- LeBron James | Los Angeles Lakers
- Damian Lillard | Milwaukee Bucks
- Jayson Tatum | Boston Celtics
Candace’s Rising Stars:
- Stephon Castle | San Antonio Spurs
- Ryan Dunn | Phoenix Suns
- Zach Edey | Memphis Grizzlies
- Keyonte George | Utah Jazz
- Trayce Jackson-Davis | Golden State Warriors
- Dalton Knecht | Los Angeles Lakers
- Jaylen Wells | Memphis Grizzlies
From a strictly on-paper standpoint, the OGs have a clear advantage. With 86 All-Star appearances between them, the sheer level of star power and name value are impossible to ignore.
However, on the court, their lack of size, especially with the injury to Anthony Davis, really hurts their chances when going up against true low-post scorers and big men like Zach Edey.
Additionally, for Dalton Knecht, who was traded away from the Los Angeles Lakers before the transaction was rescinded and he was brought back, the game offers a chance to make a statement against a franchise stalwart and certified legend in James.
The inclusion of the Rising Stars immediately drives up interest, if only as a folly to the stars we grew up watching in the league. However, the tournament format offers the chance for players to take the All-Star Game seriously and deliver on an unforgettable weekend.
