NBA All-Star Game – Picks, Odds & New Format (2025)

• The 2025 NBA All-Star Game features a new four-team tournament format
• Team Shaq (OGs) is favored over Team Candace (Rising Stars), while Team Chuck (Global Stars) is favored vs Team Kenny (Young Stars)
• Get the latest NBA All-Star Game odds, format details, predictions, and best bets below

The NBA is shaking things up with an exciting new format for the 2025 All-Star Game in San Francisco. Gone is the traditional East vs West matchup, replaced by a four-team, three-game tournament showcasing 24 of the league’s brightest stars.

TNT’s Inside the NBA crew of Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley will serve as honorary GMs, each drafting an 8-man All-Star squad. The fourth team will be the winner of the Rising Stars tournament, coached by WNBA legend Candace Parker.

The All-Star draft has already taken place before Sunday’s festivities tip off at the Chase Center.

2025 NBA All-Star Game Predictions & Best Bets

• Semifinal #1: Team Shaq -6.5 (-122)

• Semifinal #2: Team Chuck -3.5 (-115)

While the new tournament format adds a bit of unpredictability, the teams stacked with veteran stars still have the edge. Team Shaq’s roster is absolutely loaded with future Hall of Famers like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Stephen Curry.

Shaq is clearly prioritizing experience and star power, which should serve him well in this condensed tournament setup. Unsurprisingly, they are massive -520 moneyline favorites over Team Candace’s Rising Stars squad.

Over in the other semifinal, Team Chuck is rolling out a well-balanced squad featuring MVP-caliber talent in Nikola Jokić and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Chuck has also leaned into international stars, adding Pascal Siakam and young phenom Victor Wembanyama to the mix. This blend of elite versatility makes them solid -178 favorites over Team Kenny’s explosive but untested Young Stars.

When it comes to predicting the overall tournament winner, Team Shaq is the clear +100 favorite. However, don’t sleep on Team Chuck at a juicy +190 price in the NBA All-Star odds.

With elite two-way forces like Jokić and SGA flanked by ascending international talent, they have the firepower to challenge Team Shaq in a potential finals showdown. Chuck’s decision to mix established global stars with rising talent could be a winning formula.

The unique 40-point target score format means these semifinal clashes will be fast-paced and high-pressure. With no game clock to lean on, shot-making and defensive energy will be paramount. I’m rolling with the favored squads to survive and advance:

In Semifinal 1, The LeBron, Steph, KD trio is an embarrassment of riches. Shaq’s experience-laden squad will simply outclass the scrappy but overmatched Rising Stars. Meanwhile, in #2, Jokić and SGA form a lethal inside-out duo. With key additions like Siakam and sharpshooter Damian Lillard, this squad has the balance and depth to overpower Team Kenny.

On top of my semifinal picks, I’m also throwing some action on Team Chuck at +190 to win it all. They’ve got the matchups to handle both young squads, and more importantly, they have the firepower to give Team Shaq a real fight in a potential championship clash.

2025 NBA All-Star Game Odds

Want to put some money down on the action? Here are the latest NBA All-Star odds from FanDuel Sportsbook:

Semifinal #1: Team Shaq (OGs) vs Team Candace (Rising Stars)

Semifinal #2: Team Chuck (Global Stars) vs Team Kenny (Young Stars)

2025 NBA All-Star Game Tournament Winner Odds

Odds as of February 15, 2025 at FanDuel Sportsbook. Bet on NBA All-Star Weekend with the FanDuel promo code.

Breaking Down the 2025 NBA All-Star Game Format

The NBA has completely reimagined the All-Star experience with this year’s groundbreaking format. Here’s a quick rundown:

• 24 All-Stars will be split into four teams of eight through a live draft.
• Teams Shaq, Chuck, and Kenny will pick from the 24 All-Stars, while Team Candace will feature the Rising Stars tournament winners.
• Semifinals will be played to 40 points, and the championship game will be a race to 25 points—no game clock, just pure competition.
• First team to hit the target score wins—no running out the clock or coasting.
• It’s a single-elimination tournament, so winners advance and losers go home.

For years, fans have complained about the All-Star Game lacking defense and intensity. This new format should fix that in a hurry. The shorter games and single-elimination setup mean players can’t afford to take plays off—it’s all gas, no brakes.

It’s also a smart move by the league to put the TNT crew front and center, letting Shaq, Chuck, and Kenny draft their own squads. The live draft adds some extra drama, and with $1.8 million in prize money on the line, expect these ultra-competitive athletes to bring their A-game.