Kevin Durant Questions Critics Giving Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic ‘Free Pass’ for Careless All-Star Games

There have been a lot of doubts and questions surrounding the NBA All-Star game for a while now, but Kevin Durant was having none of it. For several years, there has been a lack of commitment and effort from the players heading into the All-Star game.

Over the last few years, lack of defense and competitiveness have been the major talking points for NBA fans. Kevin Durant has blamed former teammate Stephen Curry for the decline of the All-Star game.

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has had his hands full in trying to lift the standards of the game and entertaining the fans. Several analysts have tried to suggest different formats to increase the competitiveness of the game. To revive the game’s intensity, the NBA has decided to try a new format for the 2025-26 season after abandoning the previous one.

The 2026 edition of the All-Star Game will feature Team USA vs. Team World in a round-robin format with three teams, with each game played for 12 minutes. Two USA squads and one international squad. The NBA continues to prioritize global reach and fan engagement.

Durant has been selected as an All-Star for the 16th time in his career. The 37-year-old is coming off a disappointing 105-102 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers at the Toyota Center on Wednesday night. It was another loss at home for the Houston Rockets as they sit at fourth in the Western Conference standings with a 33-20 record. Durant ended the night with 21 points, eight rebounds, and six assists.

Following the loss, Durant was asked in his post-match press conference if his self-proclaimed “Old Heads” team would play hard in the All-Star Game.

You should ask the Europeans + the World Team if they want to compete. Look at Doncic + Jokic, look at what they do at the All-Star Game. So we haven’t questioned what they’ve been doing, but we question the old heads, the Americans. Luka and Jokic, they don’t care about the game at all. They be laying on the floor, shooting from half-court, but you gotta worry about the old heads playing hard. I can read between the lines.

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

Durant did not hesitate to shift the spotlight to Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic. While the two-time champion’s comments were made in a light tone, he was calling out the hypocrisy of the media and was not buying the narrative that the so-called “old heads” are the problem.

Victor Wembanyama promises a competitive NBA All-Star Game

Drafted as the number one pick in the 2023 NBA draft, Victor Wembanyama has been named an All-Star for the second time this year. Wembanyama, along with Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jokic and Stephen Curry, were chosen as starters from the Western Conference.

The Spurs center spoke to the media and addressed the All-Star game criticism.

That comes from the fact that I’ve seen the All-Star game and obviously, it hasn’t been competitive. I’ve always thought myself that if I was in there, I’m never stepping on to the court to lose or not caring. Just like at home, I’m never stepping into a board game not caring if I’m going to lose. So I’m thinking it’s (not) ok to lose, so I’m going to be out there, I might as well win.

Asked Victor Wembanyama why he wants to bring the competitiveness back to the All-Star game:

“That comes from the fact that I’ve seen the All-Star game and obviously, it hasn’t been competitive. I’ve always thought myself that if I was in there, I’m never stepping on to the… pic.twitter.com/trjYQH2S0S

— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) February 11, 2026

NBA fans will be excited to hear the Frenchman’s statements. It will be interesting to see whether the new format restores the players’ competitiveness and brings back the All-Star Game’s pride and reputation.

Nick Wright’s solution to make NBA All-Star Game competitive

Team World faces two subdivisions of the Team USA roster in an attempt to make the game more competitive. The new format is the NBA’s latest move in trying to hype up the All-Star game and bring in some competitiveness.

However, NBA analyst Nick Wright had a more creative but complicated solution to making the All-Star game even more competitive on Bill Simmons’ podcast with the Ringer.

It is fixable in four years if your guy Kon Knueppel continues on this trajectory. And we just have to say, you know what? ‘PC headlines be damned… White guys versus black guys: Luka, Joker, Flagg, Reaves, Knueppel against Wemby or whoever. I’m telling you right now, guys will play f**king hard.

Nick Wright says the NBA could fix the All-Star Game by doing White players vs. Black players 😅

“Guys would play f*cking hard.”

(🎥 @ringer ) pic.twitter.com/s23oVZ8IN7

— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 11, 2026

Simmons agreed that this format would get a lot of eyes on the game. He did not comment on how effective such a format could be, while appearing to be in agreement with Wright.

Also Read:

• Nick Wright’s Bizarre Black vs. White All-Star Format Suggestion to Adam Silver Stuns Fans – “Would Be An Insane Circus”
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