The NBA’s Best Take the Stage at All-Star Weekend 2025
By: Andrea Aruino
It’s that time of the year to suit up in your favorite player’s jersey, grab some popcorn, and settle in for the 74th NBA All-Star Weekend. San Francisco, the city of champions, will be hosting the games and it is set to kick off on Friday, February 14, and run through Sunday, February 16! This weekend will feature classic events such as the Skills Challenge, the 3-point Contest, Slam Dunk Competition, and much more. The highlight of this weekend is notably the All-Star game, where there have been endless iconic moments such as Stephen Curry throwing a bounce pass alley-oop to Giannis Antetokounmpo or Lebron James guarding Kobe Bryant. With all of this history, we’re excited to see what monumental moments will be shown off in this year’s game.
However, the format of the All-Star Game has undergone major transformation. For the first time ever, the East will not be competing against the West. Instead, the game will follow a tournament-style format where Inside the NBA’s commentators Kenny Smith, Shaquille O’neal, and Charles Barkley drafted eight players onto their team. The fourth team playing in the tournament is earned by winning the Rising Stars game. One of the most profound changes is the absence of a game clock! The first team to make it to 40 points wins the game. This method creates a pool of curiosity to see how players will adapt to these new rules and allow for stars to showcase their mastery.
Among the stars displaying their talents this weekend is Jalen Williams, a player that UPB’s Coach Packie Turner has worked with extensively. In just his third season in the NBA with the Oklahoma City Thunder, Williams has put on a master class of a show averaging 21 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.1 assists. Williams has grown into a versatile player with strong suites on both ends of the court. His work with Coach Packie began in April 2022 in order to prepare for the NBA draft where he was selected 12th overall in the first round.
His growth and skill as a player has landed him a spot on Team Kenny as a reserve where he will play alongside stars like Jalen Brunson and Anthony Edwards. Many know Brunson for his stellar playmaking and scoring and Edwards for his posterizing dunks on opponents. Edwards especially, has easily become a popular name in the NBA world as someone who is expected to be a top player in years to come. At only 23 years old, he has built himself a rapport with fans as someone whose confidence and skill are the building blocks to taking his team to the next level.
Another name that Coach Packie has worked with include Gradey Dick of the Toronto Raptors. He was selected as the 13th overall pick in the first round of the 2023 draft and has developed an outstanding repertoire as a guard averaging 15.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.9 assists this season. He is known for his long-range shot and quick release which is only going to improve from here on out. When talking about the 2023 NBA draft, you can’t leave out Amen Thompson who was drafted fourth overall in the first round as well. He has had a significant impact on the Houston Rockets and is an important aspect to the team’s rebuild. As a fresh player in the league, Thompson has shown to be a monster on the boards with a whopping 8 rebounds.
One more player that Coach Packie has trained with is Brandin Podziemski, who has played a crucial role on the Golden State Warriors’ offense. He becomes the third player from the Warriors to play in the Rising Stars game joining Trayce Jackson-Davis and Pat Spencer. Podziemski is only the second player to be selected as a rookie and a sophomore for this event. The only Warrior that has accomplished this is Harrison Barnes back in 2013 and 2014. At just 21, he has shown power in shooting and passing, ensuring that his team can dominate on the offensive side.
Extremely fresh to the league is Alex Sarr who was selected second overall pick in the first round in 2024. Before entering the NBA he played in the Australian NBL for the Perth Wildcats and now as a power forward for the Washington Wizards. He quickly applied his shot blocking and rim protection as a 7-foot-1 player to add to the team's defensive skillset. His size allows his teammates to look to him for defense.
Other notable players include Dink Pate of the Mexico City Capitanes and Leonard Miller who plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves. All these players from Gradey Dick to Leonard Miller and many more, are set to compete against each other in a Rising Star tournament and fight for a spot in the All-Star game playing against legends they grew up watching.
Anticipation is building as we are all excited to see how these players perform and interact with each other on the court for the 74th All-Star weekend. The stage is set for a weekend of competition and fun, it’s only a matter of time before the action unfolds!
