Kevin Durant Slams NBA’s Bold All-Star Game Revamp: ‘I Hate It!’
The NBA’s new All-Star Game format, a bold departure from tradition, has drawn sharp criticism from some of the league’s most prominent stars, including Kevin Durant. The revised format features a single-night, four-team tournament with three squads of eight All-Stars each, plus a fourth team comprising the Rising Stars challenge winners.
The first team to reach 40 points in each game will secure victory. The showcase will be hosted at the Golden State Warriors’ home arena on February 16, with the Rising Stars challenge taking place two days prior.
Durant was candid in his disapproval shortly after the announcement, labeling the changes as unnecessary and unappealing. “I hate it; I absolutely hate it,” he stated. Durant called for a return to the classic East vs. West matchup, emphasizing the simplicity and tradition of that format. “We should just go back to East-West. Just play a game.”
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver introduced the changes to enhance competitiveness after last season’s All-Star Game in Indianapolis, which saw a record-breaking combined score of 397 points. The final score was 211-186, with nearly all shots taken either in the paint or from beyond the arc. Silver’s goal was to reignite the competitive edge of the midseason event, but Durant remains skeptical.
“We’ve been trying to bring that flare back,” Durant admitted, while expressing doubts about the new approach. “You never know, I might be wrong, but we’ll see how it works.”
Opinions within the league remain divided. Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander offered a more positive outlook, suggesting that player effort ultimately determines the game’s success. Meanwhile, Memphis Grizzlies star Ja Morant echoed Durant’s sentiments, concisely agreeing: “Same thing KD said.”
The revamped format has sparked a lively debate about tradition versus innovation, with many eager to see how this experiment plays out.
