The NBA's innovative All-Star Game format concluded with a familiar result for Golden State Warriors luminary Stephen Curry, who was awarded the Kobe Bryant Trophy as the All-Star MVP. This marked Curry's second time receiving the prestigious award, solidifying his status as one of the league's greats. The game unfolded at the Chase Center in San Francisco, a fitting location for Curry, who has spent the last 16 years of his life in the Bay Area. Despite the new structure making it challenging for standout performances, Curry's excellence shone through as he led Team OGs to victory.
Curry's remarkable contributions in the All-Star Game were evident as he became the 15th player in NBA history to win the All-Star MVP more than once. Additionally, he joined an elite group of 17 players who have won the award while their NBA team hosted the event. The refreshed format saw 12 Eastern and 12 Western Conference All-Stars divided into teams of eight, with a fourth team comprising first- and second-year players from the Rising Stars game.
During the game, Curry's teammates encouraged him to continue shooting, leading him to deliver two more three-pointers and secure an overwhelming 39-21 lead. His performance garnered 12 of the 14 votes for MVP, with only two other players, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jayson Tatum, receiving a single vote each. Kyrie Irving commented on Curry's performance, saying:
"It's easy to feed the hot guy, man and once he hit his first 3, basically every time we were looking for him."
Irving added:
"When he's in his hometown and playing in front of his home crowd, we all know what that means as an NBA player, as his peer. So, we're not going to get in the way of that, man."
Curry's stellar play helped Team OGs secure a 41-25 victory over the Global Stars in the first-to-40 finale on Sunday. The win capped off a successful run in the league's new round-robin tournament format. Despite the changes to the game's structure, which Curry acknowledged could make it difficult for an MVP candidate to emerge prominently, his skill and determination prevailed. Reflecting on his performance, Curry remarked:
"It was one of those little flurries, just having fun."
He also humorously noted:
"The half-court shot, I was going to take one at some point. [Nikola] Jokic was picking me up at half court, which was hilarious."
Curry appreciated the opportunity to host and participate in such a memorable event in his hometown, describing the experience as "unbelievable." Damian Lillard, who had previously won MVP last year, mentioned that the award felt more ephemeral now, yet Curry's prowess ensured his impact was anything but fleeting.
The All-Star Game has faced criticism in recent years but took a step toward regaining respectability with this new format. Curry believed it was a positive change:
"I think it was a good step in the right direction to reinvigorate the game in some way."
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