NBA All-Star Weekend 2025: Shaq Dances, Celebrities Miss Layups, and the Game Itself Struggles to Stay Relevant
February 14, 2025
The NBA All-Star Weekend 2025 brought its usual mix of basketball, entertainment, and at least one moment where Shaquille O’Neal did something no one expected. Hosted in San Francisco, the weekend had everything—celebrity athletes pretending to be basketball coaches, a firefighter out-dancing a Hall of Famer, and an actual All-Star Game that may or may not have had people actually watching.
The Celebrity Game: Athletes Playing a Sport They Don’t Play
Every year, the Celebrity Game gives fans the chance to watch actors, musicians, and influencers struggle to perform basic basketball moves, while actual athletes from other sports pretend they know how to coach.
This time, Team Bonds, led by baseball legend Barry Bonds, took on Team Rice, coached by NFL great Jerry Rice. Neither man has ever had to draw up a pick-and-roll in their life, but that didn’t stop them from pacing the sidelines like they were coaching Game 7 of the Finals.
Team Bonds had some assistance from rapper 2 Chainz, who at least played college basketball, while Team Rice was backed by viral star Khaby Lame, whose coaching strategy seemed to involve a lot of dramatic hand gestures. Actor Danny Ramirez, best known for playing Falcon in Marvel movies, ran up and down the court looking like he was waiting for the CGI team to add special effects. Meanwhile, WNBA star Allisha Gray reminded everyone what actual basketball talent looks like.
Shaq vs. The Firefighter: An Unexpected Dance Battle
No NBA event is complete without Shaquille O’Neal stealing the spotlight, and this time, he did it by losing a dance battle to a firefighter.
During a live broadcast of Inside the NBA from Pier 48, Shaq found himself in an impromptu showdown with San Francisco firefighter Lt. Mariano Elías. What started as Shaq showing off his usual goofy moves quickly turned into something much bigger when Elías responded with impressive hand spins and footwork that left the entire panel stunned.
Kenny Smith, forced into the role of judge, had no choice but to declare Elías the winner. Shaq, being Shaq, responded by laughing, giving the firefighter a high five, and acting like none of it ever happened.
Chance the Rapper Chooses Chaos
Musical performances are always a key part of All-Star Weekend, and this year, Chance the Rapper made sure people were paying attention by performing Kanye West’s "Ultralight Beam."
Considering Kanye’s ability to stay in the headlines for reasons that range from brilliant to "should someone check on him?" the decision was bound to stir up reactions. Chance explained that Kanye was one of his biggest influences, but the crowd’s reaction was mixed between, "Oh, this is nostalgic," and, "Are we still doing this?"
It was the kind of performance that had half the arena vibing while the other half tried to figure out if it was socially acceptable to enjoy it.
Inside the NBA: The End of an Era
This was also a bittersweet weekend, as it marked the final All-Star broadcast for Inside the NBA on TNT before the show moves to ABC/ESPN next season.
Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith, and Ernie Johnson have spent years roasting each other live on television, and they didn’t let their final TNT All-Star appearance end without some classic banter. Barkley reflected on past All-Star Weekend moments, including his unforgettable footrace against referee Dick Bavetta back in 2007, a moment that remains legendary for reasons no one can fully explain.
Though they’re changing networks, fans can rest easy knowing that Barkley will still say whatever comes to mind, Shaq will keep doing Shaq things, and Kenny will continue reminding everyone that he won two championships.
The All-Star Game: Is Anyone Still Watching?
For all the fun surrounding the weekend, the actual All-Star Game faced one glaring issue—attendance and viewership were noticeably down.
Analysts blame "superhero fatigue" for basketball. With so many major events competing for attention, some fans just didn’t feel the urgency to tune in. The game itself has also struggled to maintain excitement over the years, with more players casually jogging up and down the court than actually competing.
The NBA might need to shake things up to keep the game itself from turning into background noise. Maybe the next step is letting celebrities play alongside real NBA players. Imagine LeBron James setting a screen for Kevin Hart or Steph Curry throwing an alley-oop to Jack Harlow.
Final Thoughts: A Weekend of Chaos, Nostalgia, and a Questionable Future
The NBA All-Star Weekend 2025 delivered exactly what people expected—entertainment, nostalgia, and just enough ridiculousness to keep people talking.
Shaq lost a dance battle to a firefighter, Chance the Rapper made a bold musical choice, and the Celebrity Game once again proved that actual basketball skill is optional.
The biggest question moving forward is how the NBA will keep the All-Star Game itself relevant. The fun moments surrounding it might still be great, but if the game keeps losing its spark, fans might start tuning in just for the dance battles instead.
