Tyrese Maxey Shines in Revamped All-Star Format, Helps Lead Young Stars to Victory
Tyrese Maxey didn’t need MVP honors to leave Los Angeles a winner this weekend. In his second NBA All-Star appearance, the Philadelphia 76ers guard brought energy, poise, and a competitive edge to a reimagined All-Star Game format that delivered on its promise of high-level basketball. Maxey was a key piece for the USA Stripes, a squad made up of the league’s rising stars, as they battled through a trio of 12-minute games to claim the All-Star title.
Let’s break down how the new format worked and how Maxey made his presence felt throughout the night.
A New Format, a New Energy
The NBA shook things up this year, scrapping the traditional East vs. West setup in favor of a three-team, round-robin format.
The teams: USA Stripes (young American stars, led by Maxey), USA Stars (veteran American All-Stars), and Team World (international standouts). Each team played the other two in 12-minute games, with the top two advancing to a championship bout - also 12 minutes.
What followed was a fast-paced, competitive showcase that felt more like playoff basketball than a midseason exhibition.
Game 1: USA Stripes vs. Team World - Maxey Sets the Tone
Maxey and the Stripes opened the night against a towering Team World lineup featuring Nikola Jokić and Victor Wembanyama. Despite giving up significant size - Maxey was one of four guards starting alongside Pistons big man Jalen Duren - the Stripes leaned into their speed and ball movement.
Maxey didn’t light up the scoreboard early, but his fingerprints were all over the game. He dished out assists on two of the Stripes’ first three buckets - first with a lob to Duren, then a kick-out to Devin Booker for a three.
He also made a trademark hustle play, diving to save a ball from going out of bounds, leading directly to points. That kind of effort in an All-Star setting?
It set the tone.
He got on the board himself by blowing past Wembanyama and drawing a goaltending call, then followed it up with a smooth drive after relocating off the ball. Maxey finished his first shift with four points, three rebounds, two assists, and a block in just under seven and a half minutes of action.
The game ended tied after regulation, triggering a sudden-death overtime - first to five points wins. The Stripes advanced thanks to a clutch game-winner from Scottie Barnes.
Game 2: USA Stripes vs. USA Stars - A Close Call Against the Vets
Next up, Maxey and the Stripes faced a star-studded USA Stars team featuring LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Jaylen Brown, and Jalen Brunson. The young squad held their own, and Maxey chipped in with a quick bucket midway through his shift. He played just under eight minutes, scoring two points before subbing out with his team trailing by four.
The Stars ultimately edged out the Stripes 42-40, thanks to a buzzer-beating triple from De’Aaron Fox. Kawhi Leonard exploded for 31 points in the following game against Team World, eliminating the international squad and setting up a rematch between the two American teams in the title game.
Championship Game: Maxey Leads the Charge
The final showdown pitted Maxey’s USA Stripes against the veteran-heavy USA Stars, and this time, the young guns weren’t backing down. Maxey was matched up with Jalen Brunson and wasted no time making an impact.
His first bucket came on another goaltending call - this time against LeBron. Then came Maxey’s most electric sequence of the night: he blew by Durant for a layup, picked off a James pass in the backcourt, and immediately buried a deep 31-footer. That five-point burst helped the Stripes jump out to a commanding 12-1 lead.
Even when the shots didn’t fall - he missed a couple of corner threes - Maxey kept attacking. He drove past James again at the end of the shot clock for a tough layup, then locked up Brunson on the other end, leading to a transition triple from Anthony Edwards. That forced a timeout from the Stars, with Maxey’s Stripes up 26-9.
In total, Maxey logged nearly nine minutes in the title game, finishing with nine points on eight shots and adding three steals. During his time on the floor, the Stripes outscored the Stars by 22 points - a massive swing in such a short contest. He sat out the final minutes as his squad coasted to victory.
A Statement Performance from a Rising Star
Maxey said before the weekend that he was heading to Los Angeles to win, and he backed it up. He’s now 2-0 in All-Star appearances, and this year’s effort was a reminder of just how impactful he can be - not just with scoring, but with pace, defensive effort, and leadership.
This wasn’t your typical All-Star Game. The revamped format injected real competition into the event, and players like Maxey, Edwards, and Wembanyama brought a level of intensity that elevated the entire night. The veterans responded in kind, and the result was one of the most entertaining and competitive All-Star showcases in recent memory.
Maxey didn’t need the MVP trophy to prove his value. His play spoke for itself - and if this weekend was any indication, the league’s future is in very good hands.