Kevin Durant openly criticized players like Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic for their lack of intensity during the NBA All-Star Game, fueling controversy just days before the event. Speaking Wednesday, Durant pointed to the European stars as those who don’t put forth the same competitive effort as the “old heads” or veteran American players in the league.
When asked by Michael Shapiro of The Houston Chronicle whether veteran players would bring enough energy to Sunday’s contest involving Team USA Stripes, Team USA Stars, and Team World, Durant deflected the question toward the Europeans. He challenged the level of competition demonstrated by Doncic and Jokic in past All-Star appearances.
You should ask the Europeans and the World team if they’re going to compete,
Durant stated.
If you look at Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic now, let’s go back and look at what they do in the All-Star Game. Is that competition? So, we haven’t questioned what they’ve been doing. But we’re going to question the old heads, and the Americans.
Durant insisted that players like Doncic and Jokic are not invested in the All-Star Game’s outcome, adding that fans should not worry about the older American stars such as himself, LeBron James, and Steph Curry.
Nikola Jokic Comments on Playing Style Despite New All-Star Format
During his media session on Saturday ahead of the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, Nikola Jokic was questioned about participating for Team World under the revamped game format. Although he was not asked to react directly to Durant’s comments, Jokic’s remarks signaled that his approach remains consistent regardless of the changes.
I think we’re going to see tomorrow,
Jokic said.
For me, I’m going to play like I played every year. So I think, we don’t … How to say this? I’m going to play how I play every year. I’m not sure that (new format) brings another fire to me because I play every game like same.
Jokic’s All-Star stats reflect limited aggression: over eight games, he averages 6.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.3 assists while attempting just 4.1 shots per game. Despite this, Jokic acknowledged that Sunday’s game could be competitive, forecasting a Team USA Stripes victory led by veterans like LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and Kawhi Leonard.
Luka Doncic Pushes Back, Points to Veteran Players’ Responsibility
Luka Doncic responded to Durant’s criticism by arguing that the effort in the All-Star Game has historically been subdued, even when he first participated. Doncic redirected the scrutiny back toward the older players and expressed optimism about the competitiveness of the new World versus USA format.
It was the same when I played in my first All-Star game, so I don’t know why KD mentioned me and Jokic,
Doncic said, as reported by Matej of Sportinfo.
But I think we’ll see a more competitive game this year with the World vs USA format.
High Stakes for an Unpredictable All-Star Showcase
The upcoming All-Star Game on Sunday promises intrigue, with Team World featuring some of today’s top talents, including Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic, Victor Wembanyama, and Giannis Antetokounmpo. However, injuries will sideline Giannis and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, impacting Team World’s lineup depth. Meanwhile, Team USA Stripes will be without Steph Curry due to a knee injury.
Team USA Stars, composed of the best young American players, are eager to demonstrate their readiness to lead the league rather than just being future prospects. The newly introduced game format adds a fresh layer of competition, raising expectations for increased intensity and rivalry.
Kevin Durant’s vocal critique highlights ongoing tensions over commitment levels in the All-Star Game, a contest often criticized for its lack of seriousness. How players like Durant, Jokic, and Doncic perform under these new dynamics may signal changes in the event’s stature and fan engagement going forward.
Fun moment w/Kevin Durant postgame. I asked if his self-proclaimed “Old Heads” team will play hard in All-Star Game.
KD says he can “read between the lines.”
“You should ask the Europeans + the World Team if they want to compete. Look at Luka Doncic + Nikola Jokic, let's go… https://t.co/bCpLobUUFE pic.twitter.com/xUuU8AEeVQ
— Michael Shapiro (@mshap2) February 12, 2026
Luka got asked about KD's comments by a Serbian reporter: "It was the same when I played in my first Allstar game, so I don't know why KD mentioned me and Jokic. But I think we'll see a more competitive game this year with the World vs USA format." pic.twitter.com/ZaWxMV4kPu
— Matej Sportinfo (@MatejSportinfo) February 14, 2026
