Kevin Durant given up on hopeless All-Star overhaul blames Stephen Curry

Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant expressed deep skepticism about the future of the NBA All-Star Gamesaying he doesn’t believe the incident can be fixed and placing much of the blame on longtime veterans, including a former teammate Stephen Curry.

Durant shared his views during a recent episode of Unguarded in a conversation with the Rockets guard Fred VanVleetwho expressed concern about the continued decline in competitiveness during All-Star weekend. When asked directly how the league could improve the game, Durant completely rejected the idea.

“There is no fix,” Durant said.

Durant explained that his perspective is shaped by recent experience, countering the idea that the problem stems from players giving up. He said the problem remained even when he participated, describing the recent All-star format as disjointed and lacking in intensity.

VanVleet framed the issue as a leadership problem, suggesting that younger stars often follow the tone set by established veterans. He argued that players like Anthony Edwards and Shai Giljus-Alexander might approach the game differently if older stars consistently treated it with urgency.

Durant dismissed the idea that the younger players were to blame and specifically defended Edwards, noting that the Minnesota Timberwolves point guard has openly expressed his desire to compete. Durant instead argued that the responsibility rests with the league’s most influential veterans.

“OG is the problem now,” Durant said.

Kevin Durant blames Stephen Curry and Damian Lillard for NBA All-Star slump

As the discussion continued, VanVleet suggested that when younger players see All-Star appearances being treated casually, it sends a message that the game doesn’t matter. Durant declined, insisting he was taking the event seriously and pointed to Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James as another example of a veteran who approaches the All-Star Game with focus.

“I’m locked in every one of them,” Durant said, adding that James doesn’t treat the game like a gimmick.

Durant then narrowed his criticisms, singling out Curry and Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard for helping to normalize what he sees as an over-the-top performance. He argued that repeated displays of half-court shooting distanced the All-Star Game from legitimate competition.

“I blame Steph,” Durant said. “And I blame the Ladies.”

VanVleet argued that veterans still bear the responsibility of setting the overall tone, regardless of specific actions, and suggested that the efforts of established stars will naturally raise the level of play worldwide. Durant, however, remained steadfast in his stance that the All-Star Game’s problems are deep-seated and unlikely to be resolved with minor changes.

The NBA continued to experiment with new formats in an effort to revive interest and competitiveness. The league is ready make another change to the 2026 NBA All-Star Gamescheduled for February 15, 2026 in Los Angeles. The event will be hosted by the Clippers in the new Intuit Dome and will feature a revised structure with two United States teams and one world team competing in a round robin tournament.

It remains unclear whether those changes address the concerns of players like Durant as the league seeks to balance entertainment and competition on its biggest exhibition stage.