Basketball fans are getting tired of the same old story. For years, the All-Star game felt like a layup line with zero defense and scores that looked like typoed video game results. But then 2025 happened. If you’re looking at an nba all star game box score from the last couple of years, you’ll notice something shifted. We went from the East dropping 211 points in 2024—a number that honestly felt a bit disrespectful to the game—to a high-stakes mini-tournament format at the Chase Center in San Francisco.
The 2025 box score isn't just a list of numbers. It’s a map of how the league tried to save its mid-season showcase.
The Night the Format Actually Worked
The league finally ditched the traditional East vs. West slog for a four-team tournament. You’ve got Team Shaq, Team Chuck, Team Kenny, and the Rising Stars winners (Team Candace). This wasn't just about a bigger trophy. It changed the math. Instead of one long game where everyone gets bored by the third quarter, we got short, 40-point sprints.
When you look at the final nba all star game box score for the championship round, the score says it all: Team Shaq 41, Team Chuck 25.
That’s not a typo. It looks more like a halftime score from a high school game, right? But the intensity was actually there. Because the games were shorter, players didn't have to "pace" themselves. They could actually sprint. Team Shaq’s "OGs" lived up to the name, spearheaded by a local legend who probably could have won MVP in his sleep.
Steph Curry’s San Francisco Masterclass
If you were at Chase Center or watching on TNT, you saw Steph Curry do what he does best. In the final game against Team Chuck’s Global Stars, Curry put up 12 points, and every single one of them came from beyond the arc. He went 4-of-8 from deep in just over 10 minutes of play.
But a box score usually hides the "vibe." Curry didn't just shoot; he was playing with a level of joy that’s been missing from All-Star weekend. He ended up with 20 points, 10 rebounds, and three steals across his two tournament games. Getting those 10 boards as a guard in an All-Star setting? That tells you he was actually tracking the ball, not just waiting for the next highlight dunk.
Team Shaq’s Championship Box Score
- Jayson Tatum: 15 points, 3 rebounds (led all scorers in the final)
- Stephen Curry: 12 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist
- James Harden: 3 points, 4 assists, 2 rebounds
- Kyrie Irving: 7 points, 3 rebounds, 2 steals
Honestly, Team Chuck just couldn't find the basket. They started the final 0-for-10. You had Nikola Jokić and Victor Wembanyama on the same floor, and they still only managed 25 points. Wemby led them with 11, but the "Global Stars" looked a little gassed after their first-round win against Team Kenny.
Why 2024 Was the Breaking Point
To understand why the 2025 nba all star game box score looks the way it does, you have to remember the 2024 disaster in Indy. The Eastern Conference won 211-186. It was the first time a team ever crossed the 200-point mark. While the box score looked impressive—Damian Lillard dropping 39 and Karl-Anthony Towns putting up 50 for the West—the game was almost unwatchable.
✨ Don't miss: How to train for arm wrestling without destroying your elbows
There were 168 three-point attempts in that game. 168!
The 2024 box score revealed a "stat-padding" culture that the fans hated. Lillard won MVP but got booed by the Indiana crowd because they wanted Tyrese Haliburton to take it home. That friction, combined with the lack of defense, forced Adam Silver’s hand. The 2025 shift to a tournament was a direct response to that 211-point outlier.
The Rising Stars Factor
One of the coolest parts of the 2025 box score is seeing how the "kids" fared against the vets. Team Candace (the Rising Stars) actually gave the OGs a run for their money in the semifinals. They lost 42-35, but Dalton Knecht and Ryan Dunn both put up 8 points.
It’s rare to see rookies actually guarding LeBron James or Kevin Durant in an All-Star setting. Usually, they're in different buildings on different nights. Seeing them show up in the same nba all star game box score as the legends was a win for the league's marketing, and surprisingly, for the quality of play.
What Most People Get Wrong About These Stats
A lot of people look at an All-Star box score and think, "Oh, so-and-so only played 10 minutes, he must be hurt." In 2025, that wasn't the case. With the tournament format, the minutes are naturally lower. You’re looking at a sprint, not a marathon.
Also, look at the free throws. Or rather, the lack of them. In the 2025 final, Team Shaq didn't shoot a single free throw. Team Chuck only shot two. The "stats" in these games come from flow and rhythm, not from drawing fouls. If you see a player with high "FIC" (Floor Impact Counter) scores in an All-Star game, it usually means they were the ones actually trying to facilitate and move the ball, rather than just ISO-ing at the top of the key.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts
If you're tracking these stats for historical context or just a friendly debate, here’s how to actually read the modern All-Star box score:
- Watch the FGA vs. Minutes: If a player is taking 15 shots in 10 minutes, they’re gunning for MVP. In 2025, Tatum was the one who stayed efficient, going 6-of-7 from the field.
- Look at the Steals: In a game where nobody plays defense, steals are the only real indicator of effort. Curry’s two steals in the final showed he was actually watching the passing lanes.
- Check the "Plus/Minus": Even in a 10-minute mini-game, the +/- tells you who was actually keeping the energy up. Team Shaq’s starters were all in the positives, while Team Chuck’s bench struggled to keep pace.
The NBA All-Star Game is still evolving. Whether we stick with this tournament format or go back to basics, the box score will always be the best way to see if the players actually showed up to play or just to show off their shoes.
To stay ahead of the next All-Star cycle, keep an eye on the mid-season tournament stats. The league is increasingly using those high-stakes games to test which players have the "clutch" factor that translates to these new All-Star formats. If you're building a fantasy profile or just want to be the smartest person at the bar, start weighing "points per minute" much more heavily than total points in these exhibition settings.