NBA All-Star Game: Everything You Need To Know To Place Your Bets On All-Star Weekend
by Devesh Jaganath | by Cydias Aujard
NBA All-Star Game Teams and Format
This weekend’s events mark the first time since the turn of the century that All-Star Weekend will return to the San Francisco Bay Area. The last time the prestigious competition was held in this region was in 2000 when the All-Star Game took place in Oakland and Hall of Famers Shaquille O’Neal and Tim Duncan shared co-MVP honours, a moment that remains a highlight in NBA history to this day.
This year’s All-Star Game introduces an exciting new tournament-style format, featuring four teams: Team Chuck, Team Kenny, Team Shaq, and Team Candace. Notably, the roster for Team Candace will be determined by the winner of the Rising Stars event on Friday night. Team Chuck and Team Kenny will face off in the first match and the winners will face either Team Shaq or Team Candace in the main event. For each game, the winner will be the first team to reach or surpass 40 points. Here is a look at the teams competing in this year’s NBA All-Star Weekend:
Chuck’s Global Stars: Donovon Mitchell, Nikola Jokic, Trae Young, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Victor Wembanyama, Pascal Siakam, Alperen Sengun and Karl-Anthony Towns.
Kenny’s Young Stars: Anthony Edwards, Jalen Brunson, Jaren Jackson Jr., Cade Cunningham, Darius Garland, Tyler Herro, Evan Mobley and Jalen Williams.
Shaq’s OGs: LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kyrie Irving, Jayson Tatum, Kevin Durant, Damian Lillard, James Harden, Jaylen Brown and Anthony Davis.
Candace’s Rising Stars: Winner of Rising Stars game.
Betting on the NBA All-Star Weekend
Betting on the NBA All-Star Weekend depends on your location and the betting regulations governing it. In areas where sports betting is permitted, you can usually find odds on all this weekend’s festivities, including the Three-Point Contest, Slam Dunk Contest, and of course, the All-Star Game itself. However, the types of bets available may vary from one bookmaker to the next.
If sports betting is permitted in your area, you’ll likely find a variety of wagering options for NBA All-Star events. The most straightforward bet is picking the outright winner of each competition, for example, you can place a wager on who you believe will take home the trophy in the Slam Dunk Contest or the Three-Point Shootout. Additionally, some bookies may offer over/ under bets on some events while traditional spread betting is typically available from all bookmakers that offer odds on the NBA All-Star Game.
Tournament schedule
- Rising Stars Challenge (played last night, Saturday 15 February 2025 at 02:00)
- Semi-final 1: Team Chuck vs Team Kenny (Monday 17 February 2025 at 01:20)
- Semi-final 2: Team Shaq vs Rising Star Challenge winner (Monday 17 February 2025 at 02:10)
- Final (Monday 17 February 2025 at 03:00)
Stats From 2024 All-Star Game
If you are considering placing a wager (or two) on All-Star Weekend, taking last year’s key stats into account may provide you with a bit of assistance to guide your decisions. Here are a few of the headline figures to take note of:
NBA All-Stars West:
| PLAYER | MIN | FGM | 3-P | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L. James | 13 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| K. Durant | 24 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 18 |
| N. Jokić | 23 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 13 |
| L. Dončić | 22 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| S. Gilgeous-Alexander | 27 | 12 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 31 |
| A. Davis | 22 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| S. Curry | 25 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 16 |
| D. Booker | 19 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 15 |
| A. Edwards | 12 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| K. Leonard | 10 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| P. George | 10 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 13 |
| K. Towns | 27 | 23 | 4 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 50 |
| TOTALS | 80 | 25 | 53 | 60 | 8 | 2 | 186 |
NBA All-Stars East:
| PLAYER | MIN | FGM | 3-P | REB | AST | STL | BLK | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J. Tatum | 21 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 20 |
| G. Antetokounmpo | 23 | 11 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 23 |
| B. Adebayo | 16 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| D. Lillard | 3 | 14 | 11 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 39 |
| T. Haliburton | 27 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 32 |
| J. Brown | 22 | 15 | 6 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 36 |
| D. Mitchell | 16 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
| P. Banchero | 18 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| T. Maxey | 17 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| J. Brunson | 17 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 12 |
| S. Barnes | 17 | 7 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 16 |
| T. Young | 14 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| TOTALS | 83 | 42 | 64 | 46 | 6 | 1 | 211 |
Three-Point Contest:
| Player | Team | First round | Final Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damian Lillard | Milwaukee Bucks | 26 (16) | 26 |
| Trae Young | Atlanta Hawks | 26 (15) | 24 |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | Minnesota Timberwolves | 26 (16) | 24 |
| Tyrese Haliburton | Indiana Pacers | 26 (12) | DNQ |
| Lauri Markkanen | Utah Jazz | 25 | DNQ |
| Jalen Brunson | New York Knicks | 24 | DNQ |
| Donovan Mitchell | Cleveland Cavaliers | 21 | DNQ |
| Malik Beasley | Milwaukee Bucks | 20 | DNQ |
Slam Dunk Contest:
| Player | Team | First round | Final round |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mac McClung | Osceola Magic NBA G League | 97.4 (48+49.4) | 98.8 (48.8+50) |
| Jaylen Brown | Boston Celtics | 96.4 (48.8+47.6) | 97.8 (48.6+49.2) |
| Jacob Toppin | New York Knicks | 95 (47.8+47.2) | DNQ |
| Jaime Jaquez Jr. | Miami Heat | 94.2 (47.4+46.8) | DNQ |
Key Considerations for Betting on All-Star Weekend
As with any All-Star Game, one major factor to consider is the level of effort that each team or player in likely to expend on the game. Over the years, All-Star Games from various sports have faced criticism for players not playing to their full potential, particularly on defence, as it is often considered “less glamorous” than providing thunderous dunks and no-look assists. This could very well be the case again this year, and this could be a significant factor in your betting decisions.
Next, it is worth taking a moment to consider the team composition you are betting on. For instance, stalwarts like those that feature on Team Shaq, including the likes of LeBron James, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and Damian Lillard have little to prove, having starred in this match and the NBA for many years. Thus, there is a case to be made that these players may provide a less intense performance as compared to the team that emerges from the Rising Stars tournament, who are eager to impress on the grandest stage of them all.
Equally important is understanding the target score for each contest in this year’s new format. Teams need to reach a target score of 40 points to advance, which is a relatively low target given the plethora of talent on display. Therefore, betting on large point spreads in the semi-final or final could be risky, as the small target score makes it easier for teams to stay competitive, especially if players that favour the three-point shot catch fire.
To give you a little helping hand with placing your wagers on the All-Star Weekend events, take a look at our NBA Predictions and Free EXPERTS Betting Tips ahead of the festivities.
NBA All-Star Betting Odds
As always, players will not only be competing for their teams at the All-Star Game but also for individual accolades, with the biggest of them all being the NBA MVP award. Here are the betting odds for the 2025 All-Star game:NBA All-Star MVP Winner
- Stephen Curry - 6.50
- Shai Gilgeous-Alexander - 7.50
- Victor Wembanyama - 7.50
- LeBron James - 7.50
- Anthony Edwards - 10.00
- Damian Lillard - 12.00
- Jayson Tatum - 14.00
- Kevin Durant - 16.00
- Donovan Mitchell - 16.00
- Karl-Anthony Towns - 18.00
NBA All-Star Game Winner
- Team Shaq (OGs) - 1.75
- Team Chuck (Global Stars) - 2.00
- Team Kenny (Young Stars) - 3.50
- Team Candace (Rising Stars) - 7.50
