Local legend Stephen Curry crowned MVP of the newly revamped NBA All-Star Game

Stephen Curry Shines as MVP in Revamped NBA All-Star Mini-Tournament

The NBA’s All-Star Game underwent a dramatic transformation this year, shifting from a traditional high-scoring showdown to a three-game mini-tournament format. The result? A winning total of just 41 points—drastically lower than last year’s 211-point explosion.

In a competition filled with flashy highlights but limited intensity, Boston’s Jayson Tatum delivered the title-clinching dunk as Shaq’s OGs claimed victory in the first-ever All-Star mini-tournament. The OGs defeated Chuck’s Global Stars 41-25 in the final, with Tatum contributing 15 points and Stephen Curry adding 12, including a signature half-court three-pointer.

Curry Claims MVP Honors on His Home Court

Curry, playing on his home floor at Chase Center, earned All-Star Game MVP honors after leading his team to victory. Reflecting on the weekend, he described it as “a celebration of a lot of great things.”

“It’s obviously our responsibility to come out and put on a show,” Curry said, acknowledging his teammates for their contributions.

The title game was decided early, as the Global Stars struggled to find their rhythm, starting 0-for-10 from the field and 0-for-6 from beyond the arc. In a game where the first team to 40 wins, that kind of slump spelled disaster.

San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama, who led the Global Stars with 11 points, was visibly frustrated when Tatum sealed the championship with his decisive dunk.

New Format Aims for More Competitive Play

This year marked the debut of the All-Star mini-tournament, featuring four teams and three short, untimed games, each with a 40-point target. The league introduced the format in response to last year’s historically high-scoring game (211-186) and hopes that shorter playtimes would encourage more competitive action.

Milwaukee’s Damian Lillard, who played for the winning OGs squad, acknowledged the effort to bring back intensity:

“I think they’re just looking for a more competitive game and trying to find ways to create that,” Lillard said. “I thought tonight was a little bit more competitive than in past years.”

While the defense was slightly more engaged than in previous All-Star Games, the event still had plenty of lighthearted moments. There were underhand lobs from half-court, Kevin Hart’s energetic in-game commentary, and even some playful trash talk.

Superstars & Celebrities React to the New Format

The game wasn’t without its critics. The Breakfast Club’s Charlamagne Tha God dismissed the new structure as uninspiring, while Phoenix’s Kevin Durant argued for a late foul call that could have decided his team’s fate.

Curry, however, was pleased with the outcome:

“I just wanted tonight to be fun,” he said. “I think it was fun.”

Kyrie Irving, also a member of the victorious OGs, carried the All-Star trophy into the Global Stars’ locker room after the game, playfully asking, “Y’all good?”—only to be met with boos from the runners-up.

The OGs won without LeBron James, who sat out due to foot and ankle discomfort, leaving them with just seven players. Minnesota’s Anthony Edwards also missed the tournament for Kenny’s Young Stars due to a lingering groin issue.

How the Tournament Unfolded

• Semifinal 1: Chuck’s Global Stars advanced by defeating Kenny’s Young Stars behind a 12-point effort from Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
• Semifinal 2: Shaq’s OGs edged out Candace’s Rising Stars, a team made up of first- and second-year players who had earned their way into the tournament by winning the Rising Stars event on Friday.
• Final: Shaq’s OGs dominated Chuck’s Global Stars, with Curry and Tatum leading the charge.

Despite their lack of experience, the Rising Stars proved to be no easy out, forcing nine lead changes and five ties in their matchup. The Lakers’ Dalton Knecht and Suns’ Ryan Dunn each scored eight points, while Curry contributed eight for the OGs.

What’s Next?

With the NBA experimenting with new ways to make the All-Star Game more engaging, the success of this year’s mini-tournament will likely spark further discussions on how to refine the format.

Next year, NBA All-Star Weekend (Feb. 13-15, 2026) will take place at Intuit Dome, the new home of the Los Angeles Clippers in Inglewood, California. Whether the mini-tournament concept returns—or sees further tweaks—remains to be seen.

For now, Stephen Curry adds yet another accolade to his legendary career, cementing himself as the MVP of this new-look All-Star experience.