Kevin Durant dismisses the ‘intensity’ of the All-Star Game that will draw fans’ attention

ByNBAUSA


Houston Rockets a veteran Kevin Durant disagrees with the idea that the NBA All-Star Game was more intense than the current era. Golden State Warriors veteran Draymond Green criticized the new format of the All-Star game as the association tries to make its signature event more competitive after lackluster responses in recent years.

For Durant, he disagrees with the narrative of how competitive the All-Star Game was for the NBA in the 1990s and 2000s, and he explained why during All-Star Media Day on Saturday.

“I watched the All-Star games and the intensity that the older generation talks about,” Durant said. “I don’t know if I saw that, you know?”

The NBA’s new USA vs. World format will feature three teams — Team World, USA Stars and USA Stripes — each with eight players, competing in a round-robin tournament.

Kevin Durant will play for Team USA Stripes along with Kawhi Leonard of the LA Clippers, All-Star LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers and Jaylen Brunson of the New York Knicks, among others such as Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics and Donovan Mitchell of the Cleveland Cavs. Brandon Ingram of the Toronto Raptors and De’Aaron Fox of the San Antonio Spurs are filling in for the injured Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors All-Stars and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Bucks.

Luka Doncic will play for the All-Star Lakers, two-time MVP of the Denver Nuggets Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray for the first time in the All-Star. The Rockets’ Alperen Sengun, the Knicks’ Karl-Anthony Towns and the Spurs’ Victor Wembanyama are also on the team, along with Portland Blazers All-Star forward Danny Awdia and Indiana Pacers’ Pascal Siakam.

Kawhi Leonard hopes players ‘compete’ in All-Star games

Kawhi Leonard speaks during an interview at media day at the Intuit Dome
William Liang-Imagn Images

Clippers veteran Kawhi Leonard thinks the All-Star Game will be competitive this season. However, for Leonardo, how is it the games begin is critical, he said, to the NBA for Premier Chris Haynes.

“He’ll start with the starters, whoever comes out first,” Leonard said. “For me, personally, we should go back to how it was, and if the guys want to play hard, they’re going to play hard. I think it’s going to be competitive this year. I don’t know what the format is. But I hope the guys compete. They usually do, but it’s also an All-Star game.”

Leonard will play for Team USA Stripes.





2026-02-14 21:39:00

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