Does losing interest in the NBA rip you off the right to criticize the league and events? That shouldn’t be right, because the loss of interest has more to do with the quality of the game. In fact, according to a majority section of the fans and experts, it’s NBA stars who are to be blamed for events like NBA All-Star declining because of no defense and competitive spirit whatsoever. But does everyone agree with this? Oh well, no! Kevin Durant believes otherwise.
But how did it start? After fans ripped apart the latest NBA All-Star Game, Durant wasn’t having it. He fired back at them online. But former NBA star Kenyon Martin? He’s calling it like it is—fans have every right to be upset. As for the amount of criticism, Martin stated the reason to be a vast network of platforms through which fans can voice out their opinions.
“They have the right to complain because they’re paying for it… They paying they money for it… Like hard-earned… People work 9 to 5 and f*king all hours of the day to go watch this sh*t. And they don’t like what they see, so of course they gonna have something to say,” Martin said on Gil’s Arena.
And he makes a solid point. Think about it—if you paid to wash your car, and the spots are still all over it, wouldn’t you complain? Of course you would! It’s the same with the NBA. Fans pay for subscriptions, tickets, merchandise—all expecting a quality product. If they don’t get it, they have every right to voice their frustration.
But Kevin Durant? He wasn’t exactly on board with that logic. “I think it’s more fun to complain about the NBA than to actually watch it. Crazy, cancel All-Star Weekend and let’s just give everybody a break since we’re so miserable around this time…” he wrote.
Feb 16, 2025; San Francisco, CA, USA; Shaq’s OGs guard Jaylen Brown (7) of the Boston Celtics shoots against Chuck’s Global Stars center Nikola Jokic (15) of the Denver Nuggets during the 2025 NBA All Star Game at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Ezra Shaw-Pool Photo via Imagn Images
Here’s the thing—his anger seems a little misplaced, doesn’t it? The fans aren’t just complaining for the sake of it. They’re pointing out a real issue. Last season’s All-Star Game saw an absurd combined score of 397 points. That’s not a game—it’s a layup drill. And this season? The same story. No defense, no intensity, and no competitive fire like we once saw in the days of legends like Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant.
Even the new format is of no use as reports of another format change have already gained pace.
Despite Durant’s snub, What could solve the existing issue with NBA All-Star?
Let’s be honest—the NBA All-Star Game has lost its spark. The flashy dunks and no-defense showcases are fun, but where’s the competitive fire? Well, a new idea might just be the fix: World vs. USA. Imagine the best international players battling against America’s finest. Now that sounds like a game worth watching!
Even NBA stars are excited about it. Victor Wembanyama didn’t hold back, saying, “I would love to. My opinion is that it’s more purposeful.” And if that’s not convincing enough, Giannis Antetokounmpo doubled down: “There’s more pride in it. More stakes. I would love that.” He believes the USA vs World format would give him a bit more extra juice to compete.
And let’s face it—the All-Star Game needs that extra juice. Fans have been asking for something more intense, and this could be the answer. Even Charles Barkley, who has been involved in past formats, seems to support the idea. So the chances that Kevin Durant’s backlash will change the reality of the situation are thinner than the strand of a hair.
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