LeBron James was selected as the first pick in the new-look 2025 NBA All-Star draft on Thursday night, alongside a now-former teammate Anthony Davis. The “Inside the NBA” crew, led by Shaquille O’Neal, picked three of the four teams competing in the mini-tournament.
The veteran Team Shaq squad boasts championship talent, featuring James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and Jayson Tatum. Charles Barkley’s team is filled with international stars, including Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Victor Wembanyama.
Meanwhile, Kenny Smith’s roster consists of up-and-coming All-Stars such as Anthony Edwards, Jalen Brunson, and Jaren Jackson Jr. The three teams will compete in a mini-tournament, with the winner of the Rising Stars competition joining them for a four-team showdown on February 16 at Chase Center in San Francisco.
The coaches for the tournament will include Mark Daigneault from the Oklahoma City Thunder and Kenny Atkinson from the Cleveland Cavaliers, along with an assistant from each team. This format marks the first time the NBA All-Star Game features a mini-tournament of four teams playing three games.
Source: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/43725095/lebron-james-drafted-first-new-look-nba-all-star-game