Athletes

Several NBA All-Stars Support One-on-One Competition: “Hell Yeah”

Rachel Nichols polled several NBA All-Stars—including Anthony Edwards, Kyrie Irving, and Giannis Antetokounmpo—about competing in a one-on-one event next year.

By Ryan Glasspiegel

Feb 18, 2025 | 04:08 pm

Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images

A bevy of NBA All-Stars indicated they’d be up for some one-on-one competition during NBA All-Star Weekend.

Front Office Sports reported earlier this week that there was chatter around the All-Star Game in the Bay Area this past weekend that the NBA was discussing the parameters of a one-on-one event with a $1 million prize. This news came after Unrivaled co-founder Napheesa Collier took home a $200,000 bounty for winning a one-on-one tournament staged by the upstart women’s hoops league.

Longtime NBA media personality Rachel Nichols polled several All-Stars over the weekend, and they responded affirmatively with interest in the new event.

Asked if he’d put himself on the line for a one-on-one tournament, Anthony Edwards channeled Stone Cold Steve Austin and gave Nichols a “Hell yeah.”

Kyrie Irving was also intrigued. “I’m open to it,” he said. “When there’s smoke, there’s fire—and I’m that fire in one-on-one.”

“It would be fire,” James Harden said.

“Hell Yeah” – Anthony Edwards.
On Open Run, I asked a bunch of NBA All Stars what they thought of doing a 1-on-1 tourney at next year’s event – and a LOT of them said they’re in. Let’s go… pic.twitter.com/k5ppQCCRyp
— Rachel Nichols (@Rachel__Nichols) February 17, 2025

Giannis Antetokounmpo gave a lengthy answer to Nichols about the idea during his pregame press conference on Sunday.

“Yeah for sure,” Antetokounmpo said. “If I had the chance to play one-on-one with anybody, I’d love to do it. Anything that can make the weekend more exciting, more fun, for the viewers and for the fans and for the players, I would love to participate.”

Next year’s NBA All-Star Game is in Los Angeles and will air on NBC.