Durant name checks World players about playing hard in All-Star Game
Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant said that he is playing on an ‘old head’ team at the 2026 NBA All-Star Game, but said there isn’t a concern about how hard his team will play.
Durant will suit up for the USA Stripes team in the All-Star Game, which features a U.S. vs. the World format. Other ‘old heads’ on the team with the 37-year-old Durant include Stephen Curry (age 37, but injured and will not play), LeBron James (41) and Kawhi Leonard (34).
The 16-time All-Star also said people should ask the Europeans players if they will play hard, because in the past they haven’t, just like players from the United States
‘You should ask the Europeans and the World team if they’re going to compete,’ Durant said ‘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.’
Durant was asked about San Antonio Spurs forward Victor Wembanyama, who said he plans on giving maximum effort.
‘We’ll see,’ Durant said.
‘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.’
