Stephen Curry Shines As 'Team Shaq' Wins NBA’s First All-Star Mini-Tournament

Golden State Warriors superstar Stephen Curry delivered a vintage performance on his home court, leading Shaq’s OGs to victory in the NBA’s inaugural All-Star mini-tournament on Sunday night. His electrifying display earned him MVP honors, capping off an unforgettable All-Star Weekend in San Francisco.

Curry spearheaded Team Shaq, a veteran-loaded squad featuring Kevin Durant and Jayson Tatum, to a commanding 42-25 win over Chuck’s Global Stars, led by international standouts Nikola Jokić and Victor Wembanyama.

With LeBron James sidelined due to injury, Curry wasted no time making his presence felt. He opened the championship game with a running three-pointer, igniting an 11-0 run that set the tone early.

Despite a brief comeback attempt from Team Chuck—highlighted by a Wembanyama dunk that cut the deficit to 23-15—Curry snatched back momentum with one of his signature deep bombs, draining a 39-foot three-pointer from half-court.

Reminiscent of his clutch performance in the Paris Olympics gold medal game, the four-time NBA champion buried back-to-back triples, pushing Team Shaq’s lead to 39-21 before Tatum sealed the win with a dunk.

Tatum finished with 15 points, while Curry added 12 points, securing his second career All-Star Game MVP award.

LeBron James Sits Out First All-Star Game in 20 Years

For the first time in two decades, the NBA’s all-time leading scorer LeBron James missed the All-Star Game, citing lingering discomfort in his left foot and ankle.

Despite being named a starter for a record 21st consecutive time, the Lakers superstar skipped Saturday’s ceremonial practice and media availability, signaling that he wasn’t at full strength.

“I was hoping it would feel better this morning, but it’s still not where I want it to be,” James explained. “We have 30 games left, and I’m focused on making a playoff push in the wild, wild West. I just thought it was important to take care of myself.”

The Lakers are set to return to action on Wednesday against the Charlotte Hornets, making up for a previously postponed game due to the Los Angeles wildfires.

NBA Players Praise New All-Star Game Format

This year’s revamped All-Star format introduced a three-game mini-tournament, where four teams—handpicked by TNT’s Inside the NBA analysts Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley, Kenny Smith, and Candace Parker—competed for the crown.

Warriors star Stephen Curry called the new structure “a step in the right direction.”

“I think it helped reinvigorate the game,” Curry said. “It’s not going to look like the past, because basketball has evolved, but it can still be fun for everyone. I had fun. Our team had fun.”

While some players criticized the long breaks between games, Dallas Mavericks guard Kyrie Irving acknowledged the NBA’s efforts to keep things competitive.

“You’ve got to give them credit,” Irving said. “They did the best they could while still making sure the games had some intensity. I enjoyed myself.”

During the championship game, play was paused for 20 minutes to honor the TNT broadcast crew, covering their final All-Star Weekend.

Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander also liked the competitive energy but suggested eliminating breaks in the future.

“I’d rather play straight through,” he admitted. “But overall, I had fun. It felt more competitive, and that’s a good sign.”

Rising Stars Earn a Spotlight on All-Star Sunday

As part of the new format, Candace Parker’s Rising Stars—a squad of first- and second-year players—earned a spot in the Sunday showcase after winning their own mini-tournament on Friday.

Suns forward Kevin Durant was particularly excited about the young talent getting the spotlight.

“I’m glad Ryan Dunn got to play on Sunday night,” Durant said. “It gives him something to aspire to. These rookies are looking up to us as All-Stars, and I’m sure we’ll see some of them back here in the future.”

With an MVP-worthy performance from Curry, a revamped game format, and a competitive edge returning to All-Star Weekend, the NBA may have finally found a winning formula for its midseason classic.