In front of an electrified home crowd at Chase Center, Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry was awarded the Kobe Bryant Trophy as the NBA All-Star MVP, leading Team OGs to a decisive 41-25 victory over the Global Stars in the first-to-40 finale. The championship game capped off the league’s new round-robin tournament format, adding a fresh twist to the All-Star festivities.
With Team OGs, coached by Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal, holding a 23-15 lead in the title game, Curry put on a dazzling shooting display that only he could deliver. The two-time MVP and all-time 3-point leader showcased his otherworldly range by sinking a 3-pointer from half court, igniting the San Francisco crowd that had come to see their hometown hero shine. The half-court shot not only put Team OGs up by double digits but also solidified Curry as the frontrunner for MVP honors.
From there, his teammates kept feeding him the ball, urging him to continue his shooting spree. Curry responded with two more 3-pointers, extending Team OGs lead to an overwhelming 39-21. Jayson Tatum then sealed the victory with a thunderous dunk, hitting the target score and bringing his personal total to 15 points.
Curry finished with 12 points, including three electrifying 3-pointers in the championship game. He received 12 of the 14 MVP votes, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Tatum earning one apiece. This marked the second All-Star MVP award of Curry’s career, having first won the honor in Cleveland in 2022, where he put on a historic performance with 50 points and 16 made 3-pointers.
Curry also became the 15th player in NBA history to win the All-Star MVP more than once and joined an elite group as the 17th player to earn the accolade while his team hosted the event.
This year’s All-Star Game introduced a new round-robin tournament format, pitting four teams Team OGs, Global Stars, Young Stars, and Rising Stars against each other. The first team to reach 40 points in each game advanced, culminating in the finale between Team OGs and Global Stars.
Through the semifinal rounds, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the leading MVP candidate for the Global Stars, scoring 12 points on a perfect 5-for-5 shooting performance, including a clinching dunk to beat the Young Stars 41-32. For Team OGs, Damian Lillard emerged as an early MVP contender, scoring nine points and hitting a game-winning 27-foot 3-pointer to overcome the Rising Stars 42-35. Lillard, who was last year’s All-Star MVP with a 39-point explosion, praised the new format, noting its emphasis on quick scoring runs and highlight plays.
However, Curry’s second-half heroics in the championship game shifted the narrative. The half-court shot ignited the arena, and his subsequent 3-pointers sealed his MVP fate, ensuring his place in All-Star history.
For the Chase Center faithful, watching Curry dominate on his home court added an extra layer of excitement. “It was special to do it here, in front of the fans that have supported me my entire career,” Curry said during the post-game ceremony. “To bring this MVP trophy home is something I’ll never forget.”
The night also served as a celebration of the global appeal of the NBA, with international stars like Gilgeous-Alexander showcasing their talent on the league’s biggest stage. But in the end, it was Curry’s show-stopping performance that stole the spotlight, reminding the world why he’s one of the most electrifying players in basketball history.
As the NBA continues to innovate with its All-Star format, one thing remains certain: Stephen Curry’s legacy only continues to grow, one half-court shot at a time.
