The NBA All-Star Game isn’t what it used to be, and that’s no longer a debate. In 2025, fans tuned in with hope but left with disappointment. “ We’re not necessarily looking for players to go out there as if it’s the Finals, but we need players to play defense. We need them to care about this game ,” Commissioner Adam Silver had said the year before, hoping for intensity. But that intensity never came. Players barely tried on defense, and the energy just wasn’t there. The format change aimed to fix things, but it didn’t move the needle much for most viewers.

While TV ratings dipped 13%, they still beat 2023’s record low. But what really stood out was digital engagement. League Pass signups jumped 56%, and social content hit 4.7 billion views. It looked like younger fans still cared at

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