While both the NBA and TNT have put a lot of effort into trying to get people excited about the 2025 All-Star Game format, which replaces the historic game with a mini-tournament that includes a Rising Stars club made up of young players, they haven’t gotten much support in those efforts from TNT NBA analyst Draymond Green.
The Golden State Warriors forward, who hasn’t played in an All-Star Game since 2022, has been on the offensive all night while working the TNT studio show.
He joined Jalen Rose and Vince Carter in calling out LeBron James after the Los Angeles Lakers star announced just hours before the game that he wouldn’t be playing.
Green then scorched the earth with his thoughts on the Rising Stars’ addition, saying it was “absurd” to include them in the All-Star Game.
Later, Green was given the floor to share his thoughts on the new format again. Once more, he shared his open disdain for all of it.
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
“You work all year to be an All-Star, and you get to play up to 40, and then you’re done. This is so unfair to Victor Wembenyama, who just took this game really seriously. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who just took this game really seriously,” said Green. “When you talk about chasing after the points record. Melo, Kobe, and all these guys who’ve had great scoring nights. They don’t get the opportunity to do that with this game. All so we can watch some Rising Stars… Now, we get the treat of watching the Olympic team play against a U-19 team.
“Come on, what are we doing? This is ridiculous.”
“Scale of 1-10, your thoughts of the format,” asked host Adam Lefkoe.
“Ten being the best? A zero. Sucks,” responded Green. “This ain’t basketball.”
Green’s defense ignores the fact that the All-Stars have been criticized for years for not taking the game seriously and making it uninteresting to watch. He blames the Rising Stars, but those young players wouldn’t even be here if the NBA pros had put in more effort.
Charles Barkley, who is always happy to criticize current NBA players and their lack of intensity, rebutted Green’s narrative.
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
“I’m going to disagree with Draymond A LOT,” said Barkley. “I used the analogy, like, when your kids mess up the house you make them clean it up and they complaining. They messed the game up! That’s why we’re trying to kamikaze stuff out here right now. His generation messed the game up. So don’t act like he’s mad that they trying to use rookies… we’re doing every type of trick to make this weekend exciting.”
This All-Star Game format might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s fascinating to see how it’s become a referendum between NBA generations and what they think about the state of the game.
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.