Kevin Durant pushed back Saturday against nostalgia for the competitiveness of older NBA All-Star Games, saying he reviewed footage and did not see the vaunted intensity that veteran players often describe.
“I’ve been watching All-Star games and the intensity the older generation been talking about. I don’t know if I’ve seen it,” Durant said in comments posted by ClutchPoints on X.
"I've been watching All-Star games and the intensity the older generation been talking about. I don't know if I've seen it."
— Kevin Durant 🗣️pic.twitter.com/d4Y66J7yfw
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 14, 2026
The Houston Rockets forward’s remarks came during All-Star Weekend as he prepares to suit up for the veteran-heavy “USA Stripes” team — dubbed the “old heads” squad featuring LeBron James and others — in Sunday’s exhibition against the World team. Recent All-Star Games have drawn criticism for a lack of effort, with players often treating the event as a showcase rather than a contest.
Durant, 37, also deflected some scrutiny toward international stars, noting that players such as Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic have not faced similar questions despite laid-back performances in past exhibitions.
The comments quickly drew reactions on X, where users offered a mix of agreement, skepticism and criticism.
One fan pointed to specific old footage: “I saw a clip of the 1993 all star game. There was intensity.” (@NathanMaloney1)
Another defended Durant’s honesty: “Loving the KD All Star interviews this week, he been keeping it 1000.” (@Willpower2_)
Others were less impressed. “That’s just a lie,” one user wrote (@stellacats14). Another added: “lol foh KD. The old cats went hard in the paint, actually playing D. Y’all soft & don’t bring the intensity.” (@Wilks434)
Some blamed Durant for contributing to the league’s current style: “Everybody blames LeBron but it’s really Durant that ruined the NBA.” (@BLonghere17)
A few took a broader view of the exhibition format itself: “It was never as intense as people thought they were. They bullshitted until the 4th quarter lol. The concept of all star games are dumb in general tbh.” (@troll_god101)
Durant’s take arrives as the NBA continues to grapple with how to restore excitement to its midseason showcase. Whether Sunday’s game delivers more effort — from any side — remains to be seen.
