NBA
Audio By Carbonatix
The NBA introduced a new format to its much-maligned All-Star game this year and the response as been tepid, to say the least. Put it this way: if the changes were made to resurrect interested in the All-Star game, the NBA failed at that goal miserably.
This year, the 2025 NBA All-Star Game introduced a new format, doing away with the traditional single exhibition game in favor of a four-team mini-tournament which featured three All-Star squads managed by Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith and Shaq, and the Rising Stars team coached by Candace Parker.
In the final, Shaq’s OGs — which featured the likes of Jayson Tatum, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry, Kyrice Irving, James Harden, Damian Lillard, and Jaylen Brown — beat Chuck’s Global Stars in the final by a score of 41-25.
Charles Barkley: “I’m going to disagree with Draymond A LOT… They messed the game up!.. His generation messed the game up!… We’re doing every type of trick to make this weekend exciting.” #NBA https://t.co/v7CYFf3kFG pic.twitter.com/QiltQVt0RZ
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 17, 2025
“I’m going to disagree with Draymond A LOT. I used the analogy, like, when your kids mess up the house you make them clean it up and they complaining. They messed the game up! That’s why we’re trying to kamikaze stuff out here right now. His generation messed the game up. So don’t act like he’s mad that they trying to use rookies… we’re doing every type of trick to make this weekend exciting,” Barkley said on Sunday.
Beyond the new bizarre format and general lack of effort, LeBron James was specifically criticized for how he handled this year’s All-Star game, as he didn’t announce he wouldn’t be playing in the game until the day-of, which may fans believed blocked another NBA player from earning a spot on the roster.
Not participating in the dunk contest, arriving late, flaking out last second so no one could get in as a replacement over him
he’s really done everything he could to disrespect all-star weekend i’m impressed https://t.co/rVmvYvIlPg
— ay (@spoonlocks) February 17, 2025
In addition to the format and level of competition, the NBA was also shredded for the amount of advertisements, Kevin Heart, and Mr. Beast involved in the broadcast.
“The Kevin Hart stuff is humiliating. the league should apologize to fans and players,” one NBA fan complained.
“Kevin Hart, Chuck and Shaq getting 100x more airtime than Jalen Brunson and Cade Cunningham on All-Star Sunday night … speaks volumes about how badly the NBA markets their product,” read a viral tweet.
“I’m sorry, these game-disrupting stunts emceed off the top of his head by Kevin Hart are just … painful. Just endless. Just lame and awkward,” tweeted Skip Bayless.
27 minutes of basketball
1 hour 13 minutes of Kevin Hart being annoying and unfunny
30 minutes of Draymond Green telling the rising stars theyre worthless
15 minutes of MrBeast filming a youtube video
1 hour of commercials
Nice job Silvuh
— Nick (@nickiswashed) February 17, 2025