2025 All-Star starters: 5 takeaways as generational legends secure their spots

Reason to smile: LeBron James is an All-Star for a record 21st time while Kevin Durant is tabbed for the 15th time.

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Stephen Curry, LeBron James and Kevin Durant used their Olympic spots on Team USA last summer to celebrate what was most likely their last chance together in such an elite international setting.

Will the 2025 NBA All-Star Game be their last chance as All-Star starters?

The future will answer that question, but at the very least they’ll have next month in San Francisco. Their spots were secured when voters, evidently, couldn’t bear the thought of bringing any of the three off the bench.

So the three generational legends with a combined 47 All-Star selections (James with 21, Durant with 15 and Curry with 11) will team up for the West. That was the biggest, and perhaps only, major development that emerged from the hybrid voting system when results were announced Thursday, with 50% decided by fans, and then current players and media splitting the other half.

Here are five takeaways on the 10 starters named in next month’s All-Star Game:

1. Steph received a bit of home-court advantage

Yes, the game is in San Francisco. Yes, he’s a legend. Yes, this makes for a fantastic match and ideal scenario and all that. The applause in the pregame introduction for him will be seismic.

But even Curry (22.6 points for an 11th seed) would agree your eyes aren’t lying to you — this isn’t a typically great season for him so far. Luka Doncic (28-8-8) is more deserving as a starter alongside Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the West backcourt but, well, injuries.

Don’t hold your breath waiting for a massive protest, though. This is where Curry’s enormous popularity (richly deserved) bails him out. It’s the All-Star Game, not the All-NBA team. It’s largely for the fans, and they’ve spoken — they want him to get that honor.

And if you’re one of the few who’d rather see Curry, given his worth to basketball, come off the bench in his home city behind, say, Anthony Edwards, then you’re in the minority. Or live in Minnesota.

2. The LeBron baton exchange must wait

At least for another year. Because much like Curry, LeBron’s starting spot seems more of a reward for the past instead of the present.

He’s having a solid season — 23.7 points, 9.0 assists, 7.5 rebounds. And have you heard that he’s 40? That combination of advanced age and performance remains surreal and still hard to fathom. It’s good enough to be an All-Star for sure. But starter? In that sense, he might not be the most deserving on the Lakers (Anthony Davis).

Mostly, this seemed the right time for a generational hand-off to Victor Wembanyama, the face of the future, who has gone next level (24.6 points, 10.8 rebounds, 4.0 blocks) here in his second season for the Spurs. He’ll have to keep paying dues, however, and wait his turn. LeBron remains the people’s choice even though he didn’t gather the most votes this time.

3. Suns can’t rise, but KD can

Before anyone raises the topic of the Suns’ record and spot in the West — and really how much they’ve been disappointing this entire season so far — keep in mind the All-Star Game selection doesn’t care about that. It’s an individual reward. It doesn’t carry the same burden of proof as the more meaningful season-ending awards, such as Kia MVP and All-NBA.

Therefore, Durant’s selection as a starter makes a bit more sense. He’s actually the bright spot for Phoenix, consistent with his jumper, still among the league scoring leaders (sixth at 27.2) and impacting games as much as he can.

If he hasn’t done so already, Durant will announce that being selected a starter never gets old, especially this season with all the challenges. He counts blessings more than points. His level of appreciation for being a 15-time All-Star, along with his play, remains high.

4. Two Knicks over two Celtics, Cavs

New York is looking up at two teams in the standings and yet still managed to put more starters on the East than Cleveland and Boston — and any team in the West.

Is this a basketball injustice? Debatable. Karl-Anthony Towns is having a better season than any center in the East. Brunson’s only competition for a starting backcourt spot is Cade Cunningham, whose profile only soared when the calendar and the Pistons’ fortunes both flipped three weeks ago.

What other Celtic is worthy of starting? Only Jaylen Brown is up for discussion, but his level of play has dipped from last summer’s postseason run and his overall efficiency is down from last season. The Cavs? Their success is due to the collective. Darius Garland (and maybe another on the Cavs) will likely be chosen as reserves.

Sometimes the team with the better record doesn’t always demand the most starters. This is one of those instances.

5. Who’s in reserve?

Now comes the suspenseful part — the seven reserves from each conference who’ll be chosen by the coaches to fill out the rosters. This process is always followed by the ‘Who Got Snubbed?’ conversation.

In the East, there are the near-automatics: Cunningham and Garland. Then it’s all up in the air. Evan Mobley of the Cavs? LaMelo Ball of the Hornets, who won the fan vote among guards? Trae Young of the Hawks, who leads the league in assists?

In the West: Davis, Edwards and Wemby should feel secure. After that, it gets interesting. Jalen Williams of OKC and Alperen Sengun of the Rockets have compelling arguments in their favor; each are having career seasons for contenders.

There’s always the chance of an injury replacement getting the call-up, except this season the league’s best players (with few exceptions) are running good on health — which makes the competition for spots even tougher.

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Shaun Powell has covered the NBA for more than 25 years. You can e-mail him here, find his archive here and follow him on X.

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