Kevin Hart Joins NBA As First-Ever Emcee At 2025 All-Star Game
Kevin Hart to make history as first-ever emcee for the 2025 NBA All-Star Game debuting a new format, featuring Shaquille O'Neal, Charles Barkley, and Candace Parker. We discuss it here!
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Philadelphia Eagles, Super Bowl LIX for season 2024, NFL Final, American football championship game in Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana
Credit: kovop
By: Joshua Martin
Comedian Kevin Hart has been announced as the first ever emcee for this year’s NBA All Star game. The star-studded annual event is introducing this new element as it debuts a new game format set to debut Sunday (Feb. 16th) at the Chase Center in San Francisco. The 45-year-old and 4 time Celebrity Game MVP will bring his signature humor and energy to the court, leveraging his longtime relationships with the league and its stars. The famous actor will be joined by Ernie Johnson, and team general managers Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Candance Parker, and Kenny Smith as hype basketball fans tune in from around the world.
The 2025 NBA All-Star Game will feature four teams and three games in its first year playing this new format. Each game will be won by the first team to score 40 points. Each team will have eight players and be named for a TNT NBA analyst. Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, and Kenny Smith chose their rosters from the All-Star player pool in the NBA All-Star Draft. Candace Parker’s team will be the Castrol Rising Stars champion.
The four teams participating in the NBA All-Star Game will compete for a prize pool of $1.8 million, with each player on the championship winning team receiving $125,000, each player on the second place team receiving $50,000 and each player on the third and fourth place teams receiving $25,000.
In addition to Kevin Hart, the NBA has enlisted a variety of talent in various roles for the 2025 All-Star weekend, with the full lineup recognizing the Bay Area’s contribution to music and culture. Kicking off the festivities, Bay Area rapper LaRussell will take the stage to perform an original song to introduce the 2025 Castrol Rising Stars on Friday (Feb. 14th), with the event broadcast at 9 p.m. ET on TNT, truTV, and MAX.
To watch the 2025 NBA All-Star game, tune in tune to TNT, TBS, truTV, and MAX on Feb. 16th, at 8 p.m. ET.
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Charles Barkley Announces Retirement From Broadcasting After Upcoming NBA Season
NBA legend, Charles Barkley, announced last week that the upcoming NBA season will be his last year on television. We discuss it here!
Charles Barkley on the ‘Inside The NBA’ on TNT
By: Joshua Martin
“The Round Mound of Rebound” is officially calling it quits. NBA legend, Charles Barkley, announced last week that the upcoming NBA season will be his last year on television. According to reports, Barkley’s move coincides with the expiration of Warner Bros. Discovery’s media rights deal with the NBA.
“I ain’t going nowhere other than TNT. But I have made the decision that no matter what happens, next year is going to be my last year on television. And I just want to say thank you to my NBA family. You guys have been great to me. My heart is full with joy and gratitude.” - Charles Barkley, NBATV
Charles Barkley, one of the Greatest TV Personalities we have ever seen, is retiring after next year,
— Robert Griffin III (@RGIII) June 15, 2024
“I have talked to all the other networks, but I ain’t going no where other than TNT. I have made the decision myself….next year is going to be my last year on television.”
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“I hope the NBA stays with TNT, but for me personally, I wanted you guys to hear it from me. I wanted to tell my NBATV and TNT family that I’m not going to another network, but I’m going to pass the baton to either Jamal Crawford or Vince Carter or you Steve (Smith). But next year, I’m going to just retire after 25 years, and I just wanted to say thank you. And I wanted y’all to hear it from me first.” - Charles Barkley, NBATV
The Alabama native and former NBA MVP joined “Inside the NBA” in 2000 and since has been awarded four Emmys and also earned an induction into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame. His authentic perspective on the game of basketball has garnered national attention on numerous occasions, making him one of the highest-paid announcers in professional sports.
“Charles is a Hall of Famer and a broadcasting icon who is and will always be a beloved member of the TNT Sports family. We’re looking forward to another fantastic NBA on TNT season and further discussion of our future plans with him.” - TNT Sports via statement
Chuck’s presence can never be replaced! He will certainly be missed!
Meet Joshua Martin, Senior Video Editor for 247 Live Culture!
Email: Joshua@247LCTV.com