The NBA rolled out a fresh All-Star format this year, and while the trophy didn’t end up in Donovan Mitchell’s hands, the league may have finally found a formula that works.
Instead of one long, often meandering exhibition, this year’s showcase was split into four mini-games, giving the night a more competitive rhythm. Three teams took the floor: the Stripes, a veteran-laden USA squad; the Stars, a younger USA group; and the World, a collection of international standouts. Each team faced the others in 12-minute matchups, with the top two advancing to a final showdown.
Mitchell, the Cleveland Cavaliers’ lone All-Star, suited up for the Stripes alongside seasoned stars like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Kawhi Leonard. And while his squad ultimately fell short in the final, Mitchell had his moments-especially in the opener against the Stars.
That first game came down to the wire. With the Stripes nursing a two-point lead and under 30 seconds to play, Mitchell tried to shake Anthony Edwards with a spin move. But Edwards wasn’t having it-he stripped the ball clean, raced downcourt, and drilled a transition three to flip the lead with 20 seconds left.
Mitchell didn’t hang his head. On the final possession, he turned facilitator.
With the clock winding down, he sliced into the lane, drew the defense, and kicked it to a wide-open De’Aaron Fox in the corner. Fox buried the buzzer-beater, giving the Stripes a 42-40 win.
Mitchell finished with six points on 2-of-3 shooting, three assists, and two turnovers-highlighted by that clutch assist when it mattered most.
Game two was another tight one, this time against the World team. The Stripes edged out a 48-45 win, thanks largely to Kawhi Leonard, who turned in a vintage performance.
Leonard was nearly automatic, dropping 31 points on 11-of-13 shooting, including the game-winning three with just three seconds left. Mitchell took a backseat in this one-no shot attempts, but he did record a block on Alperen Sengun, showing his defensive instincts haven’t taken the night off.
By the time the final rolled around, the Stripes looked gassed. Playing three games in a single night took its toll on the veteran group.
LeBron, Durant, and Leonard had clearly lost a step, and the younger legs of Jalen Brunson and Jaylen Brown didn’t do enough to pick up the slack. The Stars, led by a surging Edwards, came out flying and never looked back.
The Stripes trailed 26-9 by the time Mitchell checked in and ultimately fell 47-21. Mitchell added six more points in the final, wrapping up his night with 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting and three assists in 17 minutes across all three games.
Edwards, who was electric from start to finish, took home the Kobe Bryant Trophy as All-Star Game MVP-a well-earned nod for the Timberwolves guard who made big plays on both ends and brought real energy to the floor.
All in all, this new All-Star format felt like a step in the right direction. The shorter games kept the pace brisk, and the team-based round-robin setup gave players a reason to compete a little harder.
The first three matchups delivered real entertainment, with just enough defense and drama to feel like basketball again. Things fizzled a bit in the final, but that’s to be expected with tired legs and a long night.
Still, if the goal was to inject some life back into All-Star Weekend, consider it mission accomplished.