Both the NBA and TNT are trying to generate excitement for the 2025 All-Star Game format, which replaces the traditional game with a mini-tournament featuring a Rising Stars club of young players. However, they have faced significant criticism from TNT NBA analyst Draymond Green. The Golden State Warriors forward, who last played in an All-Star Game in 2022, has been vocal during the TNT studio show.
Green criticized LeBron James after the Los Angeles Lakers star announced, just hours before the game, that he wouldn’t participate. He expressed his disapproval of the Rising Stars’ inclusion, labeling it “absurd” to feature them in the All-Star events.
Draymond Green: “You work all year to be an All-Star and you get to play up to 40 and then you’re done… Come on, what are we doing? This is ridiculous.”
Adam Lefkoe: “Scale of 1-10, your thoughts of the format.”
Draymond: “A zero. Sucks. This ain’t basketball.” #NBA pic.twitter.com/L7dlhwLprm
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 17, 2025
Green elaborated, expressing concern for players like Victor Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who take the game seriously. “When you talk about chasing after the points record—Melo, Kobe, and others don’t get to showcase their skills with this new setup. We’re left watching an Olympic team face off against a U-19 team,” he remarked. “This is so unfair,” he added. Host Adam Lefkoe inquired about Green’s opinion on the format, to which Green replied, “Ten being the best? A zero. Sucks. This ain’t basketball.”
Green’s argument disregards the long-standing criticism that All-Stars have faced for treating the game too lightly, rendering it unexciting to viewers. While he attributes the game’s flaws to the Rising Stars, it’s important to note that these young players are only present because the NBA pros lacked effort in previous games.
In response to Green, Charles Barkley, known for his candid critiques of current NBA players, challenged his narrative. “I’m going to disagree with Draymond A LOT… They messed the game up! His generation messed the game up! We’re doing every type of trick to make this weekend exciting,” Barkley stated.
Charles Barkley: “I’m going to disagree with Draymond A LOT… They messed the game up!.. His generation messed the game up!… We’re doing every type of trick to make this weekend exciting.” #NBA https://t.co/v7CYFf3kFG pic.twitter.com/QiltQVt0RZ
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 17, 2025
This new All-Star Game format may not appeal to everyone, but it certainly highlights the generational divide in opinions about the state of the game.
