NBA All-Star Starters Announced, Stirring Debate Over Snubs

Victor Wembanyama and LaMelo Ball headline the list of notable omissions as the 2025 All-Star Game format introduces a new four-team tournament structure.

The 2025 NBA All-Star Game will feature a new four-team tournament format, with three teams drafted from 24 All-Stars and one team composed of Rising Stars Challenge winners.
LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant were named Western Conference starters, sparking debate over Victor Wembanyama's exclusion despite standout stats this season.
In the Eastern Conference, Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns of the New York Knicks made the starting lineup, raising questions about LaMelo Ball's omission despite leading fan votes.
Fan and player voting heavily favored Ball and Wembanyama, but media votes ultimately influenced their exclusions from the starting lineups.
The All-Star reserves, set to be announced on January 30, are expected to include both Ball and Wembanyama, along with other notable players like Cade Cunningham and Anthony Edwards.