Dunk-offs, OGs and Rising Stars: NBA experts break down 2025 All-Star Weekend

With a wild trade deadline in the books, the NBA shifts its focus to this year's All-Star Weekend. Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry, who has been busy building chemistry with new teammate Jimmy Butler, turns his attention to playing host at the weekend's festivities in San Francisco. Curry will play alongside Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James and Phoenix Suns' Kevin Durant on Team Shaq. The trio shined on the Olympic stage in August as they led Team USA to a gold medal over Team France.

Victor Wembanyama has a chance to get his revenge Sunday, however, as he leads his fellow international stars, including MVP front-runners Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, on Team Chuck.

Wembanyama will also take the court Saturday night, alongside San Antonio Spurs teammate and 12-time All-Star Chris Paul in the skills challenge. Saturday will also feature a pair of attempted three-peats as Milwaukee Bucks star Damian Lillard tries to win his third straight 3-point competition while Mac McClung goes for his third dunk contest crown.

Here's everything to know about the star-studded events, including who our experts think will come out on top.

Expert picks were voted on by a panel of NBA insiders including Chris Herring, Marc Spears, Michael C. Wright, Ramona Shelburne, Kevin Pelton, Dave McMenamin, Baxter Holmes, Ohm Youngmisuk, Tim MacMahon, Jeremy Woo and Bobby Marks.

Rising Stars | Skills challenge | 3-point contest
Slam dunk contest | All-Star tournament



The league's Rising Stars have a little something extra to play for this year. With the new All-Star Weekend format, the best of the four rising stars teams will earn a spot in Sunday's four-team tournament alongside this year's All-Stars.

The Golden State Warriors' Hall of Fame trio Run TMC will reunite in the Bay with Team T being coached by Tim Hardaway, Team M coached by Mitch Richmond and Team C coached by Chris Mullin, while Jeremy Lin will coach Team G League.

The action starts at 9:15 p.m. ET with Team C vs. Team T and continues at 9:55 with Team G League vs. Team M.

Which of these teams will earn a spot in Sunday's tourney and give the All-Stars a run for their money?

Game 1: Team C vs. Team T
Game 2: Team G League vs. Team M
Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2

The winner of Game 3 will play in the All-Star mini-tournament Sunday

This one is always tricky to peg on paper, but I'm personally excited to see the notoriously competitive twins Ausar Thompson and Amen Thompson reunite as teammates in this setting on Team M. Team T also looks strong, led by several quality sophomores such as Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Brandin Podziemski. While Team C isn't as loaded on paper as the other two, it's possible Zach Edey just takes over for the squad. And I'm curious to see Reed Sheppard, who has been waiting his turn for the Houston Rockets as an ostensible ringer for Team G League. -- Jeremy Woo

Expert pick: Team M

Pro Football Hall of Famer Terrell Owens returns to the game, but this time on the basketball court, and it won't be surprising if the former San Francisco 49ers wide receiver shows out. Owens, 51, last appeared in the All-Star celebrity game in 2010 but is best known for his off-the-backboard alley-oop dunk in 2009 from a Harlem Globetrotter. This time he'll be a few years older and going up against some young competition such as streamer Kai Cenat. Cenat advertised his appearance in 2024 with a mock basketball mixtape, but played sparingly in the actual game under coach Shannon Sharpe. This time around, coached by baseball legend Barry Bonds and rapper 2 Chainz, he'll look to bounce back. However, in his way is comedian Druski, who has advertised his matchup against the internet star as "Kai vs. Druski". It's a one-on-one matchup worth watching. -- Anthony Gharib



The night kicks off with the skills competition, which features some formidable duos. Draymond Green and Moses Moody will represent the home team in the competition. Like the Warriors, the red-hot Cleveland Cavaliers will be represented by a veteran and newcomer in Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley. Victor Wembanyama makes his All-Star Weekend debut alongside one of the most skilled point guards of all time in Chris Paul. It'll prove tough competition for Team Rooks, Zaccharie Risacher and Alex Sarr.

Oakland's own Damian Lillard will compete in this year's 3-point competition. A win would give Lillard a record-tying three straight wins in the event. And speaking of three-peats, two-time defending champ Mac McClung is looking for one of his own to close the night out.

Which dynamic duo will dominate the skills competition, and what do they bring to the table together?



Team Cavs (Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley)

It's fitting that Mitchell and Mobley are a tandem. New Cleveland Cavaliers coach Kenny Atkinson altered the rotation from previous seasons to always pair Mobley with Mitchell, who had been attached to Jarrett Allen under previous coach J.B. Bickerstaff. The idea was to attempt to accelerate Mobley's evolution. It has worked, which is why Mobley has proved enough this season to stick around for the Sunday showcase. -- Tim MacMahon

Team Rooks (Alex Sarr and Zaccharie Risacher)

The top two picks from the 2024 NBA draft are teaming up. The two Frenchmen have not come into the league as heralded as previous top selections, but both have had flashes of success this season. Risacher has scored 30 points in separate games, one of only two rookies (along with Jared McCain) to do so in 2024-25, while Sarr leads all rookies in blocks (1.6 per game). A strong showing in the skills competition and during Friday's Rising Stars challenge could help introduce these rookies to a more national audience. -- Jamal Collier



Team Spurs (Chris Paul and Victor Wembanyama)

They've spent all season up to this point working to improve their chemistry, but the skills competition presents a different challenge from figuring out how to attack opponents in screen-and-roll scenarios. The upshot is that both Paul and Wembanyama are not just skilled ball handlers but also gifted passers. Strictly from the standpoint of skill sets, Paul and Wembanyama should be favored to win this thing handily. -- Michael Wright