Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant responded firmly on Saturday to ongoing criticism that the NBA All-Star Game has lost its competitive spirit in recent years. Speaking during All-Star media day, Durant emphasized that much of the negativity stems from fans and media seeking reasons to complain about the event.
“I just feel like fans and media need something to complain about,”
Durant said.
“And the All-Star Game don’t make them feel like they made them feel back when they was kids, so they need something to complain about. I don’t think it’s that big of a deal, to be honest.”
Durant’s Review of Past All-Star Games Finds No Greater Competition
To back up his thoughts, Durant said he personally reviewed footage of All-Star Games dating from the 1970s through the late 1990s, looking to identify the level of intensity hailed by older generations. His findings did not support the idea that the games were played with significantly more passion in earlier eras.
“The last couple of weeks, no lie, I’ve watched probably the intro and at least the first quarter of every All-Star Game from the ’70s up until the late ’90s,”
he explained.
“I wanted to see what the big deal was, and if it was really that much intensity, like Game 7, like y’all said it was back then. And it wasn’t.”
Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards, who was present during Durant’s media session, expressed agreement with Durant’s assessment.
Durant Questions Effort from Team World Stars in Recent Games
Durant’s remarks come amid skepticism about how much effort international stars bring to the All-Star Game. He specifically mentioned Team World’s top talents like Luka Dončić and Nikola Jokić, suggesting their lack of care affects the overall competition.
“Let’s go back and look at what they do at the All-Star Game. Is that competition?”
Durant asked earlier in the week. He continued,
“These two dudes out there, Luka and Jokić, they don’t care about the game at all.”
Declining Viewership Reflects Waning Interest in All-Star Format
The NBA has experienced a steady drop in All-Star Game television ratings over the last three seasons, highlighted by a record low in 2023. That year, former Denver Nuggets coach Michael Malone characterized the contest as
“the worst basketball game ever played.”
According to Front Office Sports analyst Colin Salao, the 2025 edition was the second least-watched NBA All-Star Game ever, surpassed only by the 2023 event.
NBA Introduces New Format Aiming to Reignite Fan Engagement
Seeking to reverse declining interest, the league plans a revamped All-Star format for 2026, featuring two United States teams competing against an international squad in a round-robin style tournament. The changes aim to spark more competitive energy and boost viewership for this annual showcase.
Durant will join forces with LeBron James on the USA Stripes team as the NBA attempts to restore excitement when the 2025 All-Star Weekend tips off Sunday at 5 p.m. ET.
Malone called it “the worst basketball game he’s ever seen.” @AltitudeTV pic.twitter.com/LgULYM2prz
— Vic Lombardi (@VicLombardi) February 20, 2023
