YouTube legend Jimmy “MrBeast” teamed up with the NBA for a special segment during the 2025 All-Star weekend on February 16. This segment aired between two exciting All-Star games: one featuring Chuck’s Global Stars going up against Kenny’s Young Stars, and the other with Shaq’s OGs facing off against Candace’s Rising Stars.

It was the 100k challenge. A modest amount for MrBeast, who just gave $5 million to the winner of Beast Games, a game show based on the popular Korean show Squid Games. A college student named Jaren Barajas was going up against Damian Lillard, winner of last year’s 3-point contest. The Challenge? Jared had to shoot one three from the logo before Dame made 3. Not easy, right? Jared was a bit nervous. He missed a few shots, and Dame made two.

MrBeast asked Kenny and Shaq to come help out the young fan. Kenny gave him advice on the form. MrBeast added some pressure by saying 30 seconds before they cut to an ad. Even Dame missed his last shot on purpose. And guess what? He delivered under pressure. Jared made the three at the buzzer!

The crowd absolutely lost it. The shot was wild, and even the fan couldn’t believe it himself. He looked totally stunned as NBA mascots and legends rushed to congratulate him. But that wasn’t all—right after making the shot, the fan jumped into a pit filled with money, his expression priceless. Well, not everyone is as excited as Jared. Fans wanted the next game, but they were stuck with MrBeast.

So here’s what the fans had to say.

Fans believe MrBeast should never have been a part of the NBA All-Star Weekend

One fan wrote, “Worst NBA all star game product of all time and now MrBeast is on my screen”. For years, the NBA All-Star Game has been under scrutiny because of the lack of competitiveness and intensity. Adding MrBeast to the mix can be a polarizing move. While the YouTuber has amassed an impressive following with his outlandish challenges and massive giveaways, his presence at the All-Star Game may not appeal to everyone.

For some, the association of high-level basketball with a viral content creator feels like a distraction from the game itself.

“Mr. Beast all-star segment. This wouldn’t happen in David Stern’s NBA” wrote another fan. During his time as commissioner, David Stern really kept the NBA’s focus on the game itself. He was all about maintaining that balance between competitive excellence and the league’s image.

His leadership was firm, and it was all about basketball. Big events like the All-Star Game weren’t about gimmicks; they were a celebration of the sport.

Another netizen chimed in with “MrBeast was h—- awkward,”. Imagine him trying to hype up a crowd that’s there for pure basketball action while he’s in the middle of something that feels more like a viral stunt. When he first called Shaq to help out the fan, Shaq snubbed him. That was very awkward. But, the Big Diesel eventually came to save the YouTuber from more awkward moments.

Fans aren’t holding back their criticism of the NBA All-Star Weekend, and honestly, they’ve got a point. One fan bluntly questioned the league’s decisions, saying, “I don’t understand the correlation… Did you ever realize that All-Star Weekend has been on a decline the past 10 years? Did you realize they brought MrBeast in to attempt to bring new eyes to the sport? Who watches this bammer s—?”

The NBA clearly sees the problem, which explains why they brought in MrBeast, the YouTube megastar known for outrageous challenges and giveaways. It’s a move that screams desperation—an attempt to tap into a younger audience that’s more into social media stunts than basketball fundamentals.

One viewer pointed out, “Beast was irritating in distracting the guy while he was shooting.” That moment which was supposed to add excitement, highlighted everything wrong with the NBA’s current approach. The All-Star Game already struggles with credibility, and adding distractions like this only fuels criticism.

If the NBA wants fans to take the weekend seriously again, it might be time to rethink whether these viral stunts are helping or hurting the product.