LeBron James goes No. 1 again in the 2025 NBA All-Star draft.
As the NBA explores the possibility of a U.S. versus World format for its midseason showcase, fans will get a preview of this concept at this year’s All-Star Game.
James, who holds the record for the most All-Star selections in NBA history, was chosen as the top pick for the competition set to take place on February 16 in San Francisco. The All-Star draft aired on TNT, featuring analysts Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley as team captains.
“Old and legendary,” O’Neal joked, adding, “I’m going to go with LeBron Eduardo James.”
Although James’ actual middle name is Raymone, O’Neal is known for his playful take on players’ names. Regardless, the 21-time All-Star reclaimed the No. 1 spot, mirroring his initial draft selection back in 2003.
Barkley opted for a roster filled with international talent, including Serbian star Nikola Jokic, Greek powerhouse Giannis Antetokounmpo, Canadian standout Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, French prospect Victor Wembanyama, and more.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver recently mentioned that while the idea of a U.S. versus World game has been considered, the complexities of fairly selecting rosters pose a challenge. Currently, around 70% of NBA players are American, while 30% hail from international backgrounds.
Silver stated, “It may be a little bit of an old-fashioned concept where we come in as Americans and say, ‘We’ll take on the world.’ I’m not sure how well that would be received by our international players. We’re experimenting with a new format this year.” He emphasized the league’s desire to maintain competitiveness and entertainment for fans, especially after last year’s game, which saw an unprecedented score of 211-186, dominated by three-pointers and dunks.
This year’s All-Star event will feature a unique four-team tournament format. The winner of the Rising Stars competition, showcasing first- and second-year players on February 14, will join the All-Star festivities as the fourth team. Following two semifinal games, the winning squads will compete for the All-Star championship, with the first team to reach 40 points declared the victor.
[Related: The biggest NBA All-Star snubs, including Devin Booker and Tyrese Maxey]
The advancing Rising Stars team will be named Team Candace in honor of Candace Parker, while the other teams will be Team Shaq, Team Kenny, and Team Charles.
Here’s a look at the rosters, along with each player’s overall draft position:
Team Shaq
LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers (1); Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors (5); Anthony Davis, Dallas Mavericks (9); Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics (10); Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns (14); Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks (18); James Harden, Los Angeles Clippers (19); Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics (24).
Team Kenny
Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves (2); Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks (6); Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies (7); Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder (11); Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers (15); Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers (16); Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons (20); Tyler Herro, Miami Heat (23).
Team Charles
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets (3); Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks (4); Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder (8); Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs (12); Pascal Siakam, Indiana Pacers (13); Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets (17); Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks (21); Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers (22).
