The 2025 NBA All-Star Game rolled out its highly anticipated new format, offering fans a revamped experience: a mini-tournament featuring four teams, including Team Shaq and Team Chuck. But amidst the spectacle, something darker lurked beneath the surface. The star-studded event, designed to push the boundaries of competitiveness, was also accompanied by a different kind of tension — a tension that a 2x WNBA Champion couldn’t ignore.

“The players look like they’re being held hostage for these all-star game interviews,” Sydney Colson tweeted, revealing the pressure and discomfort athletes sometimes face in this massive media circus. While the game itself unfolded dramatically, Colson’s tweet hit home, offering a raw take on the All-Star experience.

The pressure surrounding the NBA All-Star events has long been a hot topic — from Nikola Jokić’s surprise at Luka Dončić’s absence to the awkwardness of Kevin Harlan insisting Allie LaForce interview Chris Paul and Wembanyama. Then, there was LeBron James, revealing just hours before the game that he would miss his 21st All-Star appearance due to lingering ankle and foot pain. But it wasn’t just the players feeling the heat.

Kevin Hart’s cringe-worthy moments and the pressure behind the All-Star spotlight

Kevin Hart, usually known for his comedic genius, added to the awkward tension of the night with a series of cringe-worthy moments during the celebrity interviews. His attempts at humor missed the mark, amplifying the discomfort of players who were seemingly forced into scripted banter rather than enjoying the event. Fans were quick to express their dissatisfaction, with one saying, “Kevin Hart gimmick on All-Star Sunday… just play the game,” while another quipped, “Kevin Hart is single-handedly ruining this All-Star weekend. Someone turn off his mic.“

Amidst the frustrated tweets by fans mounting pressure to perform, Colson’s tweet perfectly echoed the frustration that many players feel under such conditions.

On the court, though, it was a different story. In the final, Team Shaq, consisting of seasoned NBA veterans like Stephen Curry and Jayson Tatum, outclassed Team Chuck, whose squad was made up of international superstars like Nikola Jokić and highly talked about Victor Wembanyama. Team Shaq took an early 11-point lead, capitalizing on Team Chuck’s disastrous start — they missed their first 10 shots, digging themselves into a hole they couldn’t escape.

Despite a valiant effort from Wembanyama, who led the Global Stars with 11 points, it was Curry’s sharp shooting and Tatum’s leadership that propelled Shaq’s OGs to a comfortable 41-25 victory. Curry earned MVP honors for his 12-point performance, including nine of the final 18 points in front of a home crowd at the Chase Center.

But while the basketball was fast and furious, Colson’s remarks about the All-Star Game’s off-court atmosphere hung heavily in the air.

Ultimately, while Team Shaq celebrated their victory, the real story of the night may have been the tension between the glamour of the All-Star format and the discomfort voiced by Colson.  The All-Star Game may be over, but Colson’s words linger, reminding us that even amid fame and fortune, the human side of the game shouldn’t be forgotten.