Durant Questions Whether World Team Will Compete At All-Star Game

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Kevin Durant raises doubts about how seriously some World team stars will treat the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, singling out Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic. Durant suggests the focus on older United States players playing too hard ignores how leading European players have approached recent All-Star showcases.

Durant argues that scrutiny falls unfairly on veteran United States players rather than on international stars. "You should ask the Europeans and the World team if they're going to compete," Durant said. Durant points to Doncic and Jokic as examples when discussing recent All-Star Game standards.

Durant expanded on those thoughts by challenging Doncic and Jokic directly. "If you look at Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic 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. But these two dudes out there, Luka and Jokic, 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."

The forward says those habits, such as casual half-court shots and joking around on the floor, show why criticism should not fall only on senior United States players. Durant maintains that many discussions about the All-Star Game overlook what high-profile World team players have done in past editions.

Durant later heard that San Antonio Spurs player Victor Wembanyama plans to give full effort in this year’s event. When informed of Wembanyama’s comments about competing hard, Durant replied, "We'll see. He said that last year, too. They said it was the worst All-Star Game that people watched. So, we're going to see. Who knows what's going to happen? This format might change the game, but who knows? We'll see."

Wembanyama, speaking to reporters on Tuesday night, described a different approach to the showcase. "I've seen the All-Star Game, and obviously it hasn't been competitive. And I've always thought to myself that if I was there, I'm never stepping onto the court to lose or not caring. Just like at home, I'm never stepping into a board game not caring, thinking I'm going to lose. I'm going to be out there, I might as well win."

New format, World team stars and All-Star Game schedule

The 2026 NBA All-Star Game uses a three-team round-robin format, with two United States squads facing a World team. The competition takes place on Sunday, February 15, from 5 p.m. ET, broadcast on NBC and Peacock. The top two sides from the mini-games advance to a championship matchup later that evening.

The two United States teams are divided by age groups. Durant lines up for USA Stripes with Kawhi Leonard, Brandon Ingram, Donovan Mitchell, Jalen Brunson, Jaylen Brown, Norman Powell and LeBron James. USA Stars features Scottie Barnes, Devin Booker, Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren, Anthony Edwards, Chet Holmgren, Jalen Johnson and Tyrese Maxey.

The World team is led by Doncic and Jokic and also includes Giannis Antetokounmpo and Victor Wembanyama. Deni Avdija, Jamal Murray, Alperen Sengun, Pascal Siakam and Karl-Anthony Towns round out a deep international roster. That group faces both USA Stars and USA Stripes under the new format.

Questions about intensity now surround all three teams as the All-Star Game approaches. Durant’s comments place extra attention on how Doncic, Jokic and Wembanyama respond on February 15. The league’s revised format, with age-based United States squads and a World lineup, aims to deliver a more competitive showcase, though Durant remains unconvinced.