Kevin Durant Defends the NBA All-Star Game’s Evolution
The NBA All-Star Weekend is always a hot topic, and this year is no different. Kevin Durant has been vocal about his perspective on the state of the All-Star Game, sparking a conversation about competitiveness, effort, and the game’s overall purpose. For years, declining viewership has fueled debate about whether the All-Star Game has lost its luster.
A Deep Dive into All-Star History
Durant revealed he undertook a comprehensive review of past All-Star Games, stating he watched “at least the first quarter of every All-Star Game from like the ’70s up until the late ’90s.” He was searching for evidence to support the common perception that older All-Star Games were more intensely contested. However, his research led him to a surprising conclusion.
“I’ve been watching All-Star Games and the intensity the older generation been talking about,” Durant told reporters, shaking his head. “I don’t know if I’ve seen it.”
Viewership Trends and the Shifting Landscape
The numbers support the narrative of declining interest. According to Front Office Sports, the 2025 All-Star Game saw a 13% drop in viewership compared to 2024, attracting 4.7 million viewers. This marks the second-lowest viewership since 2000, a stark contrast to the 10.5 million viewers the game drew in that year. The 2023 game only garnered 4.6 million viewers.
Challenging the Narrative: It’s Not Just the ‘Old Heads’
Durant challenged the idea that veteran players like Stephen Curry, LeBron James, and himself are solely responsible for any perceived lack of effort. He pointed the finger at international players, specifically Luka Dončić and Nikola Jokić, questioning their level of engagement during the All-Star Game.
“You should ask the Europeans and the World team if they’re going to compete,” Durant stated. “If you look at Luka Dončić and Nikola Jokić 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.”
He further elaborated, “But these two dudes out there, Luka and Jokić, they don’t care about the game at all. These dudes be laying on the floor. They’re shooting from half court. But you’ve got to worry about the old heads playing hard? I can read between the lines, bro. It’s just an overall topic that everybody’s been talking about.”
A Celebration of Basketball
Ultimately, Durant believes the All-Star Game is being unfairly scrutinized. He argues that fans and media need something to complain about, and the All-Star Game has become an easy target. He emphasizes that the weekend is meant to be a celebration of the game of basketball.
“I just feel like fans and media need something to complain about, and the All-Star Game don’t make them feel like it made them feel back when they were kids, so they need something to complain about,” the 37-year-old said. “I don’t think it’s that big of a deal, to be honest. The All-Star Game, the All-Star Weekend, it’s here to celebrate the game of basketball.”
For Durant, the value of the All-Star Weekend extends beyond the game itself. He appreciates the opportunity to connect with current and former players, like his former teammate DeMarcus Cousins, and to witness the global basketball community come together.
“People at home complaining about the game and the intensity of it, I don’t think we’ll ever get past that,” Durant concluded. “I just think it’s way bigger than that this weekend. We can talk about who plays harder, the U.S. team vs. the World team, all that stuff doesn’t matter. I just really feel like this is a great weekend, and it brings so many people together and helps push the game forward.”
