The NBA All-Star Weekend has lost its magic. What was once a must-watch event for basketball fans has become a disappointment. Players don’t try, stars avoid the Slam Dunk Contest, and the game itself lacks intensity. Even with the league’s new mini-tournament format, the 2025 All-Star Game failed to excite. Draymond Green called the new format a “zero out of 10.” Charles Barkley blamed today’s players for ruining the weekend. The game had just 30 minutes of actual basketball in a three-hour broadcast. Something has to change. Here’s how we can fix the All-Star weekend.
Operation Fix The NBA All-Star Weekend
Reviving the Slam Dunk Contest
The Dunk Contest used to be the highlight of All-Star Weekend. Now, it’s an afterthought. Mac McClung, a G-League player with minimal NBA experience, has won three straight contests. The competition lacks star power, and NBA players fear becoming a meme on social media.
A knockout-style Dunk Contest could fix this. An eight-player format featuring rising stars and high-flying veterans would bring excitement back. Imagine this bracket:
- Amen Thompson vs. Ausar Thompson – The ultra-athletic twins go head-to-head.
- Stephon Castle vs. Mac McClung – A young star has his rematch against the defending champion.
- Zach LaVine vs. Aaron Gordon – A rematch of one of the best dunk contests ever.
- Derrick Jones Jr. vs. Obi Toppin – Two explosive leapers battle for a semifinal spot.
Players should also have the chance to challenge one another. Over time, this format could build rivalries and bring back the competitive edge.
A One-on-One Tournament
The NBA needs a 1v1 contest. Players constantly debate who would win in a one-on-one matchup, but fans never get to see it happen. A tournament featuring the 24 All-Stars, with a $1 million prize, would change that.
This idea is already gaining traction. The Unrivaled League’s 1v1 event was a success, drawing primetime attention on TNT. The NBA could follow that model, using a knockout format or even a WWE-style Royal Rumble with dramatic entrances.
Think about matchups like:
- Jayson Tatum vs. Devin Booker
- Luka Dončić vs. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- Giannis Antetokounmpo vs. Victor Wembanyama
The potential for trash talk, viral moments, and bragging rights would be off the charts.
A Mixed Three-Point Contest
Stephen Curry vs. Sabrina Ionescu was the best part of the 2024 All-Star Weekend. Fans loved seeing an NBA-WNBA crossover. Why not expand on that?
The NBA should allow two to four WNBA sharpshooters to join the official Three-Point Contest. Imagine Caitlin Clark, Ionescu, Kelsey Plum, or Arike Ogunbowale competing against the NBA’s best shooters.
This would add a fresh dynamic while promoting the WNBA. The NBA wants to grow the game—this is an easy win.
Two All-Star Games
Bill Simmons suggested a bold idea: two separate All-Star Games.
- Saturday Game – Eight All-Stars from teams ranked 6th or lower in the standings face the Rising Stars.
- Sunday Game – The remaining All-Stars (players from top-5 seeds) play an East vs. West game. The winner gets home-court advantage in the NBA Finals.
This format accomplishes several things:
- Restores prestige – Players will want to be in the Sunday game, proving their team is among the NBA’s elite.
- Creates midseason stakes – February games become more meaningful, as teams push to stay in the top five.
- Forces effort – Home-court advantage in the Finals is a huge incentive, ensuring competitive play.
Time to Fix the All-Star Weekend
Fans want competitiveness, star power, and effort. Right now, the All-Star Game provides none of those things. These ideas might be drastic, but they could restore excitement to the NBA’s biggest exhibition.
It’s time to save the All-Star weekend before it becomes completely irrelevant
Credit © Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
