Basketball stars Kevin Durant and Nikola Jokic said the new NBA All-Star Game tournament format played in San Francisco, California on Sunday (February 16) raised the competition level and was an improvement on previous editions of the annual game.

The new format featured a one-night tournament of games with four teams of eight players instead of the traditional East-West matchup.

Team Shaq, coached by former NBA star Shaquille O'Neal and led by Stephen Curry, won the inaugural tournament, defeating Team Chuck 41-25.

Curry was named MVP of the night. The Golden State Warriors star scored 20 points over two games played in his home arena, the Chase Center. Durant, Kyrie Irving, James Harden and Jayson Tatum also played for Team Shaq.

READ: Curry, Tatum shine as 'Team Shaq' romps to All-Star win

Victor Wembanyama scored 11 points to pace Team Chuck, which included the league's global players like Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and was coached by former NBA star Charles Barkley.

The contest was the second of the night for both teams under the new format.

(Production: Nathan Frandino)