The NBA All-Star Game is back in the Bay! It’s been 25 years since the league descended upon the San Francisco Bay Area to watch the biggest names in the sport go head-to-head, and now it’s time to watch a new era of stars shine under the lights this weekend.

LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant have been fixtures in the NBA All-Star Game for over a decade, but soon they’ll pass the torch to the next generation that will follow in their footsteps. This weekend, watch as emerging stars like Pistons guard Cade Cunningham and rookie sensation Stephon Castle take part in the glitzy event, and put their talent on display nationwide. In this edition of the NBA 2K25 Player Ratings, let’s break down their remarkable seasons and what’s led them to this moment.

Cade Cunningham, Guard, Detroit Pistons: 91 OVR (+1)

Cade Cunningham has officially arrived. In his fourth NBA season, the former No. 1 overall pick has earned his first All-Star selection, becoming the first Pistons player since Blake Griffin in 2018-2019 to earn the honor.

It’s been six years since the Detroit Pistons made the NBA Playoffs, but their All-Star point guard has led them out of the Eastern Conference basement this season and well into the playoff race, with the team currently ranked as the sixth seed. This season, Cunningham has improved his averages in every major statistical category, posting a robust 25.5 points, 9.5 assists, and 6.4 rebounds per game. Over the last two weeks, he’s averaging 30.5 points and 10.5 assists, and impacting the defensive end with 1.3 steals per game.

Cunningham possesses elite size and speed, coupled with a high basketball IQ and knack for scoring that makes him one of the premier talents in the NBA. The Pistons found the face of the franchise in Cunningham.

Norman Powell, Forward, Los Angeles Clippers: 87 OVR (+1)

Every year, there are a handful of stars that get snubbed from the NBA All-Star game, and this year’s batch of overlooked players includes Los Angeles Clippers forward Norman Powell, who’s having the best season of his career to date.

With the departure of Paul George in free agency and superstar Kawhi Leonard sidelined to start the year, Powell was thrust into the starting lineup and tasked with supplementing the offense alongside star point guard James Harden. In 43 starts this year, Powell is handling the added responsibility well, averaging the second-most minutes of his career—playing 33 minutes per game—and making the most of them with a career-best 24 points per game. In addition, his 49% field goal percentage is in the top 45 among all players and just outside the top 10 among guards.

Powell may have been robbed of a spot on the NBA All-Star team, but he still has a chance to add to his career year during All-Star Weekend as a participant in the 3-Point Contest. Stay tuned this weekend to see if he can walk away with the prestigious award.

Stephon Castle, Guard, San Antonio Spurs: 81 OVR (+1)

The San Antonio Spurs made headlines before the NBA trade deadline when the team acquired All-Star point guard De’Aaron Fox to play alongside phenom Victor Wembanyama. The new-look duo is sure to be the focal point of defensive game plans for years to come, but opposing teams will need to scheme for another young star-in-the-making on their roster: Stephon Castle.

Following the trade, Fox told reporters that Castle was a big reason why he wanted to join the Spurs, even reaching out to the rookie via text to tell him so. It’s not hard to understand why Fox would be so excited by the idea of commanding the backcourt with Castle; he's an agile 6-foot-5 guard with strong ball-handling skills and bounding athleticism—which will be on full display during the Slam Dunk Contest at All-Star Weekend. If he wasn’t on your radar already, Castle is a candidate to win Rookie of the Year, and could take another leap forward after the All-Star break.