NBA All-Stars 2025: Early picks for proposed tourney-style format

The NBA All-Star Game is expected to have a different format this season, with ESPN’s Shams Charania reporting last month that the league would scrap the traditional format in favor of a four-team competition for the Feb. 16 showcase at Chase Center in San Francisco.

The proposed format would see three squads composed of eight NBA All-Stars, along with a fourth team that features rookies and sophomores from the Rising Stars event.

At more than six weeks into the regular season — but before All-Star voting begins — it’s time to take a first look at how the rosters might shake out for the three NBA squads.

Because we don’t yet know how All-Stars will be selected under the new format, we’ll stick with something close to the traditional model: four guards and six frontcourt players from each conference, plus two wild cards. We’ll also draft those into the three teams using the likely options as captains: fan favorites Giannis Antetokounmpo, Stephen Curry and LeBron James.

Particularly with so much time remaining until All-Stars are selected, these won’t just be the 24 players who are performing the best this season. Past performance counts too. With that in mind, let’s look at how this year’s All-Star rosters could look.

Jump to a team:
Doncic, Jokic in Giannis’ All-World squad
LeBron’s Klutch crew comes with AD
Steph welcomes Wemby to first ASG
Trae, LaMelo among snubs (for now)

| Frontcourt

I’ve drafted Antetokounmpo an international-heavy roster, with six of the eight players from outside the United States, including last year’s four leading finishers in MVP voting. That won’t necessarily translate into an All-Star format; three-time MVP Nikola Jokic was typically one of the last starters chosen when All-Star teams were drafted, in part because of his indifferent approach to the game. But there’s plenty of talent here.

Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks | Backcourt

Doncic hasn’t been quite the same player so far this season after finishing third in MVP voting and leading the Mavericks to the NBA Finals, but there has been ample room for him to remain playing at an All-Star level. Doncic’s return after an absence of a week and a half with a wrist sprain was encouraging, as he posted a season-high tally of 36 points in Portland, followed by 37 points at home versus Memphis.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder | Backcourt

Gilgeous-Alexander has been as good as ever following his runner-up MVP finish, averaging a career-high 6.5 assists per game with more playmaking duties after the departure of Josh Giddey. Most all-in-one player metrics have Gilgeous-Alexander as either the league’s best player this season or second behind Jokic.

Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets | Frontcourt

Whether or not Jokic wins MVP for the fourth time in five years, there’s no credible debate right now about whether he is the NBA’s best player. Jokic leads the league in rebounds per game, is second in assists per game and is fourth in points per game — having never finished higher than sixth in the latter category.

Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks | Backcourt

Were Lillard still in the Western Conference, he would be battling a crowded field for one of the last spots in the backcourt. In the Eastern Conference, Lillard has a far clearer path to his seventh All-Star appearance in the past eight years. Lillard’s numbers are up across the board from his first season in Milwaukee, including the second-highest assist average (7.8 per game) of his career.

Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets | Frontcourt

If the Rockets remain second in the West or anywhere close, voters will be compelled to pick one of Houston’s players for the All-Star Game, and Sengun is the most logical choice to make his All-Star debut. He is either first (rebounds) or second (points, steals) among the Rockets in three key categories and has improved at the defensive end this season, helping spark Houston’s jump to second in team defensive rating.

Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic | Frontcourt

Another would-be first-time All-Star, Wagner has effectively taken the spot of teammate Paolo Banchero, who will surely miss too much time to repeat as an All-Star pick. Wagner is averaging 26.7 points, 7.0 assists and 6.1 rebounds over the past month and remains a critical part of one of the NBA’s top defenses. Orlando’s success without Banchero is evidence of Wagner’s value.

Derrick White, Boston Celtics | Backcourt

Despite strong endorsements from the likes of future Lakers coach JJ Redick, White wasn’t chosen as an All-Star last season. I suspect that will change now that White not only has proved his value during a title run but also is averaging a career-high 18.4 PPG. By virtue of his strong defense and efficiency (.643 true shooting percentage), value metrics peg White as worthy of All-NBA consideration, let alone an All-Star nod.

| Frontcourt

As long as fan vote remains a factor, James will surely be chosen an All-Star, though this is the first time since his rookie season the question is worth debating. If we were picking the 24 best players this season, I don’t think James would belong in the wake of a severe shooting slump. (James going from making a career-high 46% of his 3s over this season’s first 11 games to 22% over the next 10 is a good reminder how volatile 3-point shooting can be.)

Still, if anyone has earned the benefit of the doubt, it’s the NBA’s all-time leading scorer. This isn’t yet an honorary All-Star pick along the lines of other legends late in their careers. I’ve stocked James’ team with a number of fellow Klutch Sports clients, as we saw when he drafted All-Star teams in the past.

Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics | Frontcourt

Despite shooting worse from 2-point range, the Finals MVP has seen his scoring tick up from last season and is averaging a career-high 4.3 assists per game. Brown also has helped sustain his efficiency by attempting 7.0 free throws per game, nearly two more than any previous campaign.

Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons | Backcourt

Cunningham’s advanced stats haven’t improved as much this season as his box score numbers — his 23.5 PPG, 9.0 APG and 7.2 RPG are all career highs — in part because he is averaging 4.7 turnovers per game, second most in the league. I’d still bet on him as an All-Star if the Pistons stay in the mix for a postseason play-in spot because that will feel like a breakthrough, whereas other East teams (most notably the Atlanta Hawks and the Indiana Pacers, with previous All-Stars Trae Young and Tyrese Haliburton, respectively) in play-in range feel like disappointments.

Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers | Frontcourt

More than six weeks into the season, there’s no longer any debate that the Lakers are Davis’ team. He continues to lead L.A. in scoring with his highest average (27.8 points) since being traded from New Orleans, and Davis’ 9.1 free throw attempts per game are a career high. A force in the paint at both ends, Davis would likely be James’ first pick.

Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves | Backcourt

Don’t blame Edwards for Minnesota’s slow start. In large part because he leads the NBA in 3-pointers, Edwards is scoring with the best efficiency of his career and has upped his average to 26.7 PPG. Edwards proved his two-way mettle in the playoffs en route to last year’s Western Conference finals, and he figures to be an All-Star fixture for years to come.

Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks | Backcourt

As we’ll get to in looking at the players left off these teams, the competition for spots in the West backcourt is brutal. Yet Irving has earned a place by shooting a career-high 47% from 3-point range this season, making it his most efficient season yet. After helping Dallas to the NBA Finals, Irving belongs back in the All-Star Game after a one-year absence.

Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers | Backcourt

Consider Maxey one of the toughest All-Star calls. He hasn’t scored as efficiently with star teammates Joel Embiid and Paul George in and out of the lineup, and the Sixers’ dismal start hurts his chances. But Maxey deserves credit for being a steadying force, and he has been better lately, including putting up 39 points, 10 assists and five steals in a losing effort versus Houston last week.

Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers | Backcourt

The undisputed leader of the team with the NBA’s best record, Mitchell has seen his per-game averages drop in large part because of Cleveland’s lopsided wins. He’s playing just 31.9 minutes per game, the lowest mark of his career. On a per-minute basis, Mitchell has been as good as ever, and his 40% 3-point shooting would be a career high if maintained.

| Backcourt

As the de facto home team, expect Team Steph to be given the red carpet at Chase Center during the revamped All-Star format. It likely will play the Rising Stars tournament winner, which would be a team made up of NBA rookies and sophomores. Last year’s winners of that event were headlined by Oklahoma City teammates Chet Holmgren and Jalen Williams.

If the All-Stars take it seriously — no sure thing — they should easily be able to handle the Rising Stars representatives. I’ve loaded Team Steph with shooting — particularly in the frontcourt — the better for his skills to stand out.

Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns | Backcourt

I gave Booker the last wild card spot in the West over strong challengers. Booker has yet to shoot particularly well this season but has scored efficiently thanks to 89% shooting on nearly seven free throw attempts per game. Add in 6.6 assists per game and Booker’s track record, which includes starting for gold-medal-winning Team USA this summer in the Olympics, and I think he’ll get the benefit of the doubt.

Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks | Backcourt

Brunson has shifted his game with more talent around him, doing less scoring (3.3 fewer points per game) and more playmaking (a career-high 7.9 assists per game, 1.2 more than last season). The result is unlikely to put Brunson in MVP consideration like in his breakthrough 2023-24 campaign, but he’s easily an All-Star in the East.

Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns | Frontcourt

Amusingly, Curry has never drafted Durant as an All-Star captain. The former Warriors teammates seem to be in a good place, and we saw during the Paris Games how much synergy their games boast. Durant’s quick return from a calf strain shouldn’t imperil his All-Star spot, particularly if he remains one of the NBA’s most efficient high-volume scorers.

Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers | Frontcourt

The Cavaliers’ league-leading record likely will earn them a pair of All-Star representatives, and I’ve got Mobley as a slight favorite over teammates Jarrett Allen and Darius Garland — both All-Stars in 2023 — for that spot alongside Mitchell. Mobley’s development as a shot creator, which has seen him average a career-high 17.7 PPG, has been a key factor in Cleveland’s strong start.

Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics | Frontcourt

Advanced stats paint this as the best season of Tatum’s career. Though he isn’t scoring as prolifically as in 2022-23, when he finished fourth in MVP voting, Tatum has boosted both his 3-point volume (a career-high 4.0 made 3s per game) and his playmaking (a career-high 5.6 assists per game).

Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks | Frontcourt

Towns has topped his current average of 25.2 PPG only once, in 2019-20, when he played just 35 games due to injury. Add in a career-high 13.0 rebounds per game and his efficient scoring and I think Towns will earn an All-Star spot over teammate OG Anunoby despite any hand-wringing about Towns’ lack of rim protection.

Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs | Frontcourt

This looks like the first of many All-Star appearances for Wembanyama, who has dramatically improved his efficiency as a scorer (.605 true shooting percentage, up from .565 as a rookie) and is anchoring a defense good enough to put the Spurs in play-in contention. No matter how strong the West is, Wembanyama is a certain All-Star as the NBA’s leading shot blocker and the conference’s Defensive Player of the Month for October and November.

, Miami Heat | Frontcourt

A three-time All-Star, Adebayo has slumped offensively to start the season, shooting a career-worst 44% on 2-point attempts.

LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets | Backcourt

Could Ball really miss out on the All-Star Game while averaging 31.1 points per game, good for second in the NBA? There’s precedent. Bradley Beal was not selected in 2020, when he was fifth in the league at 29.1 PPG through the All-Star break before finishing second while playing for a lottery-bound Washington Wizards team. Ball’s candidacy might depend on whether rosters are chosen in part by coaches, as in the past. Coaches are less likely to reward high scorers on below-.500 teams.

Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers | Frontcourt

Realistically, Embiid already has missed too many games (15 and counting) to merit All-Star consideration, particularly given the expectation he’ll continue to sit out back-to-backs going forward.

De’Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings | Backcourt

An All-Star in 2023, Fox is averaging a career-high 27.5 PPG but might fall victim to the backcourt crunch in the West.

James Harden, LA Clippers | Backcourt

Because of his focus on high-value shots (at the rim, 3s and free throws) and the Clippers’ elite defense, Harden has All-Star-caliber advanced stats. I’m betting his sub-40% shooting will ultimately doom his chances of a first All-Star appearance since 2022.