Steph Curry delivered a standout performance at the 2025 NBA All-Star game, claiming the coveted Kobe Bryant MVP trophy and leading Shaq’s OGs to a dominant 41-25 win over Chuck’s Global Stars in the championship at Chase Center in San Francisco.
This year’s All-Star format brought a fresh twist to the event: a four-team, single-elimination tournament coached by NBA legends, culminating in a thrilling final. Curry, who scored 12 points in the finale, was instrumental in securing his team’s victory.
“I had a lot of fun,” Curry said afterward. “The intensity was definitely different than last year. It’s a step in the right direction, and it’s something new that everyone is still figuring out.”
Shaquille O’Neal, a four-time NBA champion, coached the winning squad, while Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, and Candace Parker each led one of the other teams. Curry, who also poured in 8 points during a 42-35 semifinal win against Candace’s Rising Stars, ended the competition with 20 total points and earned MVP honors for his efforts. This marks Curry’s second All-Star MVP title, making him just the 15th player in NBA history to win the award multiple times.
The revamped format, which replaced the traditional East vs. West game, featured games played to 40 points, aiming to create a more competitive and exciting atmosphere. After a disappointing 2024 All-Star game that saw a combined 397 points, this new setup brought the intensity back to the floor.
“I think it was a good step in the right direction to reinvigorate the game,” Curry reflected. “It added something fresh, and the level of competition definitely increased.”
Milwaukee Bucks’ Damian Lillard, another member of the winning team, agreed. “It was definitely more competitive than the last few years. The goal was to provide entertainment while keeping things competitive, and I think it was a success.”
However, Draymond Green, Curry’s teammate from the Golden State Warriors, wasn’t as enthusiastic about the changes. As a television analyst for the event, Green didn’t mince words, rating the new format as a “zero.” “You work all year to be an All-Star, and then you play up to 40 points and it’s over. It’s awful,” he said.
Despite differing opinions on the new structure, Curry’s MVP performance and the revamped competition format have undoubtedly sparked conversation about the future of the All-Star game, with fans and players alike weighing in on how to keep the excitement alive.
