“Nobody was proud of the All-Star presentation last year,” was the words of the NBA Commissioner, Adam Silver. Probably that was an indication of a new format. And well, he has also poured his blood, sweat, and tears into making this year’s event a better one. Commissioner Silver even reached out to Stephen Curry to ensure a better display in San Francisco. But can the all-new 2025 NBA All-Star event create the same magic that Michael Jordan and the 1993 roster did?

There has been ongoing debate about the issues with the NBA All-Star events. Getting viewership has been a struggle. It was 4.6 million viewers in 2023 and 5.5 million in 2024. Pathetic, if the benchmark is the previous editions. In that case, it’s worth looking back at the ’90s All-Star games, which had massive viewership.

Take the 1993 All-Star Game, held in Salt Lake City. Oh, a dream of a night! Featuring elite players such as Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, and Clyde Drexler, it drew 22.91 million viewers on NBC. It was also the golden era when Jordan, the Chicago Bulls, and the rest of the league were bringing massive global attention and eyeballs to the game. Jordan’s influence was huge! But now, the league heard the groans, and it is visible with the dwindling excitement. But how do you help? Silver feels this might work. At least give it a shot.

The NBA’s commissioner decided it was time to shake things up. The changes weren’t just tweaks; they were a declaration. Silver wasn’t content with the All-Star Game being a viral clip factory—he wanted it to be an actual game, where pride, strategy, and stakes made their return. An upset Silver said,

And now by restoring the East vs. West format, tweaking incentives, and adjusting gameplay rules, the NBA hopes to reignite competitiveness, increase stakes, and make the event more compelling for both players and fans.

1990 FILE PHOTO; Orlando, FL, USA; FILE PHOTO; Chicago Bulls guard Michael Jordan wearing (12) during a game against the Orlando Magic at the Orlando Arena on a night when Jordan’s regular jersey was stolen. Mandatory Credit: Photo By Imagn Images (c) Copyright 1990 Imagn ImagesA more competitive game means a better product, which ultimately leads to higher ratings, more media coverage, and stronger sponsorship deals. So while the changes aim to improve the quality of play, the underlying goal is definitely to drive more excitement—and, in turn, more viewership.

One issue fans believe to have contributed to the drop in ratings is the lack of defense. Many claimed that players aren’t playing defense and are only shooting threes. Perhaps players don’t want to risk major injuries during the exhibition game. Or maybe the NBA All-Star event needs something more intriguing to entice fans. This year marks LeBron James’ 21st All-Star stint. Do you think this year’s event can come close to Michael Jordan’s league?

The heart-pounding action of Saturday night of the 2025 NBA All-Star 

This year, the 3-Point Contest and the Slam Dunk Contest saw an incredible display. Evan Mobley and Donovan Mitchell won the NBA’s Skills Challenge title. Unfortunately, the spotlight was also on Team Spurs’ Chris Paul and Victor Wembanyama, who were disqualified. After the two thought that they had found a way to hack the rules, Team Spurs were disqualified for not shooting the ball. It was Wembanyama’s idea, which he claimed to have gotten the approval of NBA executives. It only ended for them to get disqualified and booed by the fans.

Speaking of the 2025 NBA 3-Point Contest, Heat’s star Tyler Herro clinched the win by handing defeat to Buddy Hield. Not to forget the star of the show, Mac McClung. The G-League star had four perfect dunks, securing a score of 50 to win the NBA’s Slam Dunk Contest. In the first round, McClung soared over a parked car with a person holding the ball through the sunroof, finishing with a reverse dunk. His second dunk saw him leap over a standing man, the third was a perfect score, and then only to end it with a dunk over 6ft 11 tall Evan Mobley. 

With this, McClung became the first player to win the contest for three consecutive years. As we gear up for the action at the NBA All-Star Game, it remains to be seen whether Silver’s plans will yield some good results. For us to see if the new format can catch the past viewership.