For the fifth consecutive season, Jayson Tatum will represent the Boston Celtics as a starter at the All-Star game.
It’s the 26-year-old’s sixth overall selection for the ceremonial exhibition and the third straight year he’s been voted in as a starter. Tatum was previously an injury replacement for Kevin Durant in 2021 and 2022. In 2023, Tatum was named All-Star game MVP last year after setting a new record for most points in an All-Star game, dropping 55 points on 22-of-31 (70.9%) shooting from the field and 10-of-18 (55.5%) from deep.
Tatum joins Jalen Brunson, Donovan Mitchell, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Karl-Anthony Towans as Eastern Conference starters. Meanwhile, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Nikola Jokic, Stephen Curry, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander headline the starters for the Western Conference. The 74th NBA All-Star Game is set for Feb. 16, 2025, at the Chase Center in San Francisco.
Now in his eighth season with Boston, Tatum is averaging 27.4 points per game—the second-highest of his career—along with a career-best 3.7 three-pointers made, 9.2 rebounds, and 5.5 assists. The Duke product is one of just three players in the league averaging at least 27 points, nine rebounds, and five assists, joining Antetokounmpo and Jokic. Tatum currently ranks fourth in total scoring, fifth in made threes, 18th in rebounds, and 21st in assists. He leads the Celtics in points, rebounds, and assists.
Tatum’s six All-Star nods are the most by any Celtic in franchise history before turning 27 years old. He is now tied with Ed Macauley and Tommy Heinsohn for the 11th most All-Star appearances by a Celtic.
The All-Star starters were determined by a fan vote (50%) and player and media votes (25% each). Each conference will also have seven additional reserve players chosen by the coaches. The reserves will be announced on Jan. 31.
Tatum finished second in both player and fan voting, and tied for first in media voting among Eastern Conference frontcourt players. Jaylen Brown placed sixth in player voting, fifth in fan voting, and tied for fifth in media voting among frontcourt players. Jure Holiday, a two-time All-Star with his most recent selection in the 2022-23 season, and Derrick White, the only Celtics starter still chasing his first All-Star appearance, didn’t make the top 10 in Eastern Conference guard voting. Holiday finished 14th, while White landed in 12th place.
The All-Star Game will have a new twist this year. In December, the league announced a mini-tournament featuring four teams and three games, comprised of NBA All-Stars and the Rising Stars.
Three teams will consist of eight players and be named after a TNT NBA analyst. The 24 NBA All-Star selections will be evenly split among three teams, with rosters drafted by Inside the NBA commentators and honorary team GMs: Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kenny Smith. The analysts will select players for Team Chuck, Team Shaq, and Team Kenny live on TNT during the NBA All-Star Draft on Thursday, Feb. 6.
The fourth team will be the winner of the Castrol Rising Stars championship—the annual showcase of top first- and second-year NBA players and G League standouts—played on Friday, Feb. 14. TNT analyst and WNBA legend Candace Parker will serve as honorary GM for the Rising Stars champion, known as Team Candace.
Two teams will meet in one semifinal (Game 1), while the other two face off in the second semifinal (Game 2). The winners of Game 1 and Game 2 will advance to the championship (Game 3). Each game will be won by the first team to reach or surpass 40 points.
The four teams in the NBA All-Star Game will compete for a $1.8 million prize pool. Players on the championship team will each receive $125,000, while those on the second-place team will earn $50,000. Players on the third- and fourth-place teams will each take home $25,000.
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