The 2025 NBA All-Star Game will take center stage on 17 February at Chase Center in San Francisco, California, with a bold new format aimed at reigniting the competitive spirit of the midseason spectacle.

This year’s event will introduce a tournament-style format that replaces the traditional All-Star Game, a move designed to ensure higher intensity matchups and a more engaging fan experience.

But the world's best hoops league's showpiece weekend features much more than just games, with events like the Slam Dunk Contest offering fans incredible scenes and storylines.

On Sunday afternoon Philippine time, let's take a look at what's happened so far during this star-studded weekend, and what dazzling displays of basketball are yet to come.

A new All-Star era: The mini-tournament format

Gone are the days of the classic East vs. West showdown or even the captain-led drafts of recent years. Instead, the NBA has opted for a high-stakes, four-team, three-game tournament. Three of the teams were drafted live on TNT by legendary analysts Charles Barkley (Team Chuck), Shaquille O’Neal (Team Shaq), and Kenny Smith (Team Kenny). The fourth team will feature the winners of the Rising Stars Challenge, a squad composed of standout rookies, second-year players, and elite G League talents.

Each game in the tournament will be played to a target score of 40 points. The two semifinal winners will face off in a championship match, where the victors will be crowned the ultimate All-Star champions. This new approach aims to eliminate the casual exhibition feel of recent All-Star Games, pushing players to compete at a higher level.

The Rising Stars Challenge: A new path to the All-Star Game

This year's Rising Stars Challenge provided an unexpected twist, as San Antonio Spurs rookie Stephon Castle led Team C to victory in the final against Team G-League, securing their place in the All-Star tournament. Castle, named the Rising Stars MVP, delivered a standout performance alongside teammates such as Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George and Lakers rookie Dalton Knecht.

With the tournament format in place, these young stars won’t just be All-Star Weekend spectators, they’ll be suiting up against the league’s biggest names like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Giannis Antetokounmpo in the All-Star tournament. Castle, brimming with confidence, issued a message to the NBA’s biggest stars: “Just be ready for us. Don’t count us out. We’re here to win.”

Not all Herros wear capes: The Three-Point Contest

One of the weekend’s most anticipated competitions, the Three-Point Contest, saw Miami Heat’s Tyler Herro outshoot a field of sharpshooters to claim the title on Saturday night. Herro edged out Cleveland’s Darius Garland and Indiana’s Buddy Hield in the final round, securing his first-ever Three-Point Contest victory. The absence of Golden State’s Stephen Curry, last year’s marquee participant, left a void in the competition, but Herro delivered an electrifying performance to fill the gap.