One of the most anticipated events in the NBA calendar is the All Star game, which has been played on a yearly basis since 1951, apart from in 1999, when it was cancelled due to the league lockout. In 2025, this infamous staple during the NBA season will be split into three different games, featuring four teams, giving spectators even more action to enjoy!
On this page, you can find everything related to the new NBA All-Star format, alongside the schedule, confirmed players, reserves, and the draft process. We also take a look at how you can bet on the NBA All-Star games, too!
New NBA All Star Format
The main difference between the 2025 NBA All-Star format and previous years is that three games will be played instead of one, as the event starts with a total of four teams entering the fray. A straightforward knockout style is used, meaning the three games will take place in the following order:
- Game 1: Semifinal 1
- Game 2: Semifinal 2
- Game 3: Grand Final – The winners of Semifinal 1 will play the winner of Semifinal 2
It’s also worth mentioning that each game will not be a standard basketball match. Instead, the two teams will be competing to see who reaches 40 points first. This is done to encourage aggressive, fast-paced basketball, making it a true spectacle to watch. There are also some ‘casual’ fans or neutral spectators who purely tune in for these big-name matches, so this fast-paced game can help the NBA to grow and attract new regular watchers.
| Old NBA All Star Format | New NBA All Star Format |
| One game in total | Three games in total |
| Teams representing West and East conferences | Teams representing 3 commentators and a former WNBA superstar |
| Both teams drafted | Three teams drafted and one team qualifies by winning the Castrol Rising Stars game. |
| Standard NBA scoring rules | First team to 40 points will win |
Many superstars from the NBA, including participants in the 2025 All Star event have had varying opinions on this new format. LeBron James, considered to be the best basketball player of all time, has stated that a change in the format was needed. However, there are bigger things to address.
LeBron also stated that “I have my ideas of what could possibly work.”, which he may certainly share in the future to benefit one of the most popular basketball events of the year.
Prize Pool
The prize breakdown for the 2025 NBA All Star event sits at a total of $1.8 million, which is distributed in the following ways:
- All players on the winning team will receive $125,000 each.
- All players on the team finishing in second will receive $50,000 each.
- All players on the teams that finish in third and fourth will receive $25,000 each.
Confirmed All Star Starters
As the name suggests, this event is absolutely packed with basketball superstars. The confirmed starters from the two National Basketball Association so far are as follows:
| Conference | Position | Player | Team |
| Eastern | Guard | Jalen Brunson | New York Knicks |
| Guard | Donovan Mitchell | Cleveland Cavaliers | |
| Forward/Center | Karl-Anthony Towns | New York Knicks | |
| Forward/Center | Jayson Tatum | Boston Celtics | |
| Forward/Center | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Milwaukee Bucks | |
| Western | Guard | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Oklahoma City Thunder |
| Guard | Stephen Curry | Golden State Warriors | |
| Forward/Center | Nikola Jokić | Denver Nuggets | |
| Forward/Center | Kevin Durant | Phoenix Suns | |
| Forward/Center | LeBron James | Los Angeles Lakers |
The selection process for the All Star starters involves a combination of fan, player, and media votes:
- Fan Vote: Fans hold significant sway in the All Star selection process. Their votes contribute 50% to the final decision, meaning that a broad representation of fan favourites appears in each game.
- Player Vote: NBA players themselves have a voice in choosing their All Star peers. Their votes account for 25% of the total, giving them significant sway and the opportunity to recognize on-court talent.
- Media Panel Vote: A panel of media members also participates in the selection, accounting for the remaining 25% of the votes. This provides an expert perspective on player performance and ensures a balanced evaluation of All-Star candidates.
The Draft Process
The NBA All-Star Game features a unique team draft, with popular commentators acting as honorary general managers in the event.
Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kenny Smith will be the three commentators to pick, with Candace Parker serving as the GM for Team Candace. Interestingly though, Candace will not be involved in the draft, as players representing her team come from the winning team of the Castrol Rising Stars game. This adds yet another interesting dynamic to the All-Star Game format for 2025!
All Star Reserves
NBA coaches will select reserves for the All Star tournament, with 7 coming from each conference. In total, two guards, three frontcourt players, and two players from other positions will be chosen to join the 2025 All-Star event.
Event Schedule
Before the players head to the court, the draft must first occur. This will happen on February 6th, meaning that all teams will be finalized 1 week before they tip off inside the Chase Center in San Francisco, home of the Golden State Warriors.
The NBA All Star event is scheduled to begin on Friday February 14th, with the main All Star game getting underway at 8 PM EDT on Sunday February 16th 2025.
How to bet on the NBA All-Star Event in 2025
With more than one All Star game in 2025, there are plenty of different NBA betting opportunities for fans and spectators across Canada. Here’s how you can bet on the different games online with us at BetVictor:
1. Sign in to your BetVictor account. For anyone who isn’t already registered, simply click or tap on the green ‘Sign Up’ button in the top right corner and complete the fields that pop up. From here, you can verify your information and make a deposit to bet on the NBA All-Star game with real funds.
2. Head to the sports betting page and click on ‘Basketball’.
3. From here, tap on ‘Competitions’ and find the NBA All Star game.
4. This will bring up a list of the upcoming games, with outright NBA All Star markets also being available.
5. Next, tap on the game or market you’d like to bet on.
6. Click your desired selection to add it to the bet slip.
7. Last but not least, type in your desired stake size and confirm the bet.
We have a huge range of different NBA betting markets to choose from at BetVictor, including coverage of each All-Star game and all matches that occur throughout the regular season.
As soon as each game tips off, it will become available on our in-play betting page, with basketball odds and statistics updating in real time. Before placing a bet, be sure to check out the offers page too, which features a variety of sports betting bonuses for both new and existing BetVictor customers!
Frequently Asked Questions About The NBA All Star Event 2025
The main difference in the format for the 2025 iteration of the NBA All Star event is that a total of three different games will be played, with four teams being involved in the action. The official All Star game will be the final of this mini tournament that follows a single elimination style, starting at the Semifinal stage.
The confirmed players for the 2025 NBA All Star event so far are Jalen Brunson, Donovan Mitchell, Karl-Anthony Towns, Jayson Tatum, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Stephen Curry, Nikola Jokić, Kevin Durant, and LeBron James.
This year’s NBA All Star game is scheduled for February 16th 2025 at 8 pm EDT. With that being said, the event as a whole will begin on February 14th 2025.
The best place to bet on the NBA All Star event for 2025 is right here at BetVictor. We have coverage of the entire event with a huge range of NBA All-Star odds and betting markets to choose from!
