NBA All-Star Game Ratings Drop to Second-Lowest in History

The new four-team tournament format and increased competition contributed to a 13% decline in viewership from last year.

The 2025 NBA All-Star Game averaged 4.7 million viewers, a 13% decline from 2024 and the second-lowest viewership on record, only ahead of 2023's 4.6 million.
This year's event introduced a new format featuring a four-team tournament with three games, but it failed to resonate with audiences.
Criticism of the event included significant downtime, such as extended breaks for special tributes, and the absence of LeBron James for the first time since 2004.
All-Star Saturday Night events, including the Slam Dunk Contest and 3-Point Contest, also hit a historic low with just 3.4 million viewers, down 26% from last year.
The NBA All-Star Weekend will move to NBC next year, marking its return to broadcast television and potentially boosting viewership.