Comedian Kevin Hart has been named the first on-court emcee for the 2025 NBA All-Star Game, signaling a new approach for the event. This highly anticipated game will occur at the Chase Center, home of the Golden State Warriors, on Sunday.

The NBA emphasized that Hart’s unique position will “add a layer of comedic disruption into the live game” while energizing both the athletes and the audience. This announcement came during a creative video where Draymond Green, a star player for the Warriors, personally invites Hart to the event. Hart expressed his enthusiasm but also his desire to engage more actively beyond just observing the game. He even reached out to Shaquille O’Neal, a general manager for one of the All-Star teams, in an attempt to seize a larger role.

Hart humorously talked about his basketball skills, but he will not compete with the top NBA players. However, his selection is fitting, given his longstanding connections to the league, having won the MVP title in the All-Star Celebrity Game four times in a row from 2012 to 2015—the most by any celebrity.

A notable Philadelphia 76ers fan, Hart frequently provokes NBA players during games. In a memorable incident in 2017, he trash-talked James Harden, resulting in Harden scoring 51 points against the Sixers.

Apart from comedy, Hart has experience hosting prestigious events like the BET Awards, the MTV Video Music Awards, and the MTV Movie Awards.