Houston Rockets veteran Kevin Durant does not agree with the notion that the NBA’s All-Star Game was more intense than it is in today’s era. Golden State Warriors veteran Draymond Green criticized the new format of the All-Star Game, as the association attempts to make its signature event more competitive after weak reactions in recent years.
As for Durant, he does not agree with the story of how competitive the All-Star Game was for the NBA during the 1990s and 2000s, and He explained the reason Saturday during All-Star media day.
“I’m watching the All-Star Game and the older generation is talking about the intensity of it,” Durant said. “I don’t know if I saw it or not, you know?”
“I’m watching the All-Star Game and the intensity the older generation is talking about. I don’t know if I’ve seen it before.”
– Kevin Durant 🗣️pic.twitter.com/d4Y66J7yfw
– ClutchPoints (@clutchpoints) 14 February 2026
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 the USA Stripes team alongside LA Clippers’ Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Lakers All-Star LeBron James and New York Knicks All-Star Jalen Brunson, as well as Boston Celtics’ Jaylen Brown and Cleveland Cavs’ Donovan Mitchell. Brandon Ingram of the Toronto Raptors and De’Aaron Fox of the San Antonio Spurs are replacing injured All-Stars Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors and Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Bucks.
Lakers All-Star Luka Doncic, Denver Nuggets two-time MVP Nikola Jokic and first-time All-Star Jamal Murray will play for Team World. Alperen Sengun of the Rockets, Karl-Anthony Towns of the Knicks and Victor Vembanyama of the Spurs are also on the team, as well as first-time All-Star forwards Danny Avdija of the Portland Blazers and Pascal Siakam of the Indiana Pacers.
Kawhi Leonard hopes players ‘compete’ in All-Star Games
Clippers veteran Kawhi Leonard thinks the All-Star Game will be competitive this season. However, for Leonard, how game starts “It’s important,” he said, according to NBA on Prime Insider Chris Haynes.
“It’s going to start with the starters, whoever gets there first,” Leonard said. “For me, personally, we need to get back to the way it was, and if guys are going to play hard, they’ll play hard. I think it will be competitive this year. I don’t know what the format is like. But hopefully, guys are competing. They usually do, but it’s also an All-Star Game.”
Met up with Clippers star Kawhi Leonard in LA ahead of the All-Star Game on Sunday. Many topics were discussed, including whether people would work hard. pic.twitter.com/ppgZi4L5uU
– Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) 14 February 2026
Leonard will play for the USA Stripes team.
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