The 2025 NBA All-Star Game will look different unlike the past editions, as the league has veered away from the usual two-team format. Four teams will vie for the trophy, and they’re named after the four analysts from NBA on TNT (Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, Shaquille O’Neal, and Candace Parker). Barkley, Smith, and O’Neal’s teams are filled with the voted All-Stars, while Parker’s team is composed of players who won the Rising Stars mini-tournament.
Six players will debut in the midseason festivities, and they all earned their All-Star nods. Let’s get to know them one by one, courtesy of SBOTOP.
Victor Wembanyama, Spurs
Victor Wembanyama went to the NBA All-Star Weekend last year in Indianapolis, as he competed in the Rising Stars event and Skills Challenge. This time, he is recognized as one of the best players in the world in the All-Star Game.
After a spectacular rookie season, Wembanyama got even better in his second year, averaging 24.1 points, 11.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.1 steals, and 3.8 blocks per game (league-high) on 47.6-per cent shooting from the field in 46 starts for the San Antonio Spurs.
Wemby is part of Chuck’s Global Stars alongside Nikola Jokic, Trae Young, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Pascal Siakam, Karl-Anthony Towns, Donovan Mitchell, and fellow first-timer Alperen Sengun.
Alperen Sengun, Rockets
Alperen Sengun is a big reason the Rockets are making waves in the ultra-tough Western Conference. The Turkish international is praised for his versatility, averaging 18.8 points, 10.5 rebounds, 4.9 assists, and 1.2 steals on 49.1-per cent shooting from the field in 52 starts.
He joins Moses Malone, Hakeem Olajuwon, and Yao Ming as the only players 22 or younger to be named an NBA All-Star in Rockets history. Sengun is also the first Rockets NBA All-Star since Russell Westbrook and James Harden in 2020. This is definitely the first of many for Sengun in his career.
Jalen Williams, Thunder
Jalen Williams will make his first All-Star trip this weekend. The Thunder star played college basketball at Santa Clara, about an hour from Chase Center. He joins Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the festivities for being one of the driving forces of their 44-10 record this season.
The 23-year-old swingman averages 21.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 5.1 assists, and 1.7 steals on 47.9-per cent shooting from the field across 52 starts. He will play under Kenny’s Young Stars alongside Anthony Edwards, Jalen Brunson, Jaren Jackson Jr., Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, Cade Cunningham, and Tyler Herro, with Mobley, Cunningham, and Herro being the next three players on today’s list.
Evan Mobley, Cavaliers
The Cavaliers wouldn’t be the best team in the Eastern Conference without Evan Mobley, one of their defensive anchors. The former No. 3 overall pick averages 18.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 3.0 assists, and 1.5 blocks on 56.9-per cent shooting from the field across 48 starts.
Mobley gives Kenny’s Young Stars some much-needed size, especially when they take on the big Chuck’s Global Stars squad in the first semi-final. The 23-year-old forward is a lob threat and an elite rim protector, and he can shoot three-pointers from time to time (37.8-per cent this season).
Cade Cunningham, Pistons
The Pistons are defying the NBA 2025 odds for being in the playoff mix this season, and Cade Cunningham is their main catalyst. Besides the All-Star Game, he will also compete in the three-point contest.
Cunningham averages 25.4 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 9.4 assists on 45.5-per cent shooting from the field in 50 starts this year. He is the third-fastest player (behind Oscar Robertson and Luka Doncic) to record 4,000 points, 1,000 rebounds, and 1,300 assists – a testament to his star quality.
With him leading, Detroit have doubled their win total from last season, clinching a record above the .500 mark (29-26) for the first time since 2009. Cunningham is the first Pistons draft pick to earn an All-Star nod since Andre Drummond in 2018.
Tyler Herro, Heat
The Heat are having a subpar 2024-25 campaign, especially with the Jimmy Butler saga, but Tyler Herro has been the team’s brightest spot. The 25-year-old guard is the oldest “rookie” on this list.
Tyler Herro is Miami’s top scoring option, averaging 23.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists on 46.5-per cent shooting from the field and 38.0-per cent from three-point land in 51 starts. He will also compete in the three-point contest alongside Cade Cunningham.
When he gets hot, Herro is one of the most dangerous players in the league, and we expect him to create numerous NBA 2025 highlights in his first career All-Star appearance representing South Beach.
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