Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James sat out the NBA All-Star Game on Sunday night—the first time in his career—due to lingering discomfort in his left foot and ankle. If you’ve been keeping up with the league, you’d have noticed he also missed the Indiana Pacers matchup before the break. Despite being selected as a starter for a record 21st straight year in 2025, James had to sit this one out.
Meanwhile, South African stars made their mark at the NBA All-Star Weekend. 947 radio host and actress Thando Thabethe, along with SAFTA-winning actress Linda Mtoba, attended the event in San Francisco, California. They were joined by Nigerian actress Osas Ighodaro as they took over the Bay Area—the home of the Golden Gate Bridge and the seven-time NBA champion Golden State Warriors.
This year’s All-Star Weekend was packed with unforgettable moments, ones we’ll be reminiscing about for the next 10 or 20 years. One standout was Mac McClung making history by jumping over a car to secure his third consecutive NBA Slam Dunk Contest title. His insane athleticism even caught the attention of NBA stars Ja Morant and Giannis Antetokounmpo, who hinted at potentially joining the contest in 2026.
The NBA’s global showcase featured exciting events, including the Ruffles Celebrity Game and Castrol Rising Stars Game on Friday, the State Farm All-Star Saturday Night, featuring the Kia Skills Challenge, Starry 3-Point Contest, and AT&T Slam Dunk Contest, and of course, the 74th NBA All-Star Game on Sunday. A key highlight was the NBA Africa All-Star Luncheon, where the NBA, WNBA, and FIBA communities came together to celebrate the game’s growing impact on the continent.
Africa was well represented at this year’s All-Star event. 2024 Kia NBA Rookie of the Year Victor Wembanyama (France/DR Congo) and three-time NBA All-Star Pascal Siakam (Cameroon) took center stage in the All-Star Game. Meanwhile, young African talents Bilal Coulibaly (France/Mali), Yves Missi (Cameroon), Toumani Camara (Belgium/Mali), and Alex Sarr (France/Senegal) competed in the Castrol Rising Stars Game, showcasing the continent’s growing influence in the league.
For South African basketball fans, there’s even more to look forward to! Elite basketball action returns to the country this June, as the NBA’s and FIBA’s Basketball Africa League (BAL) hosts its first-ever BAL Playoffs and Finals in South Africa at SunBet Arena in Pretoria.