Kevin Durant has three words for the NBA’s new All-Star Game format. In case you missed it, the NBA and NBPA jointly announced a new format for the league’s annual All-Star game, with a mini-tournament of four teams in three games.
Kevin Durant, 36, and fellow veteran star LeBron James’ recent comments on the NBA’s new All-Star game format might be seen as mere complaining. USA TODAY wrote an OP-ED about how Durant and James, 39, should fix the league’s All-Star Game instead of complaining about it, but it’s arguably easier said than done, as stars like Durant, James, etc., can only change their level of effort. Read on for Kevin Durant’s three words.
Kevin Durant Has Three Words For the NBA
Kevin Durant’s reaction to the NBA’s new All-Star Game format was short and sweet, to put it mildly. Durant told reporters, “I hate it,” which is understandable. The NBA’s overall ratings have significantly decreased in both its regular season and 2024 Emirates NBA Cup games compared to the 2023-24 NBA season, but the NBA’s scrapping of the traditional winner-takes-all game for a mini-tournament sounds strange.
On paper, the NBA’s new All-Star Game format would attract more viewers, both old and new, but most, if not all, players aren’t satisfied with the league’s recent change. Chances are, most if not all, fans aren’t satisfied with the league either. Of course, we’ll see how the league’s change unfolds and pans out, but something had to change, whether the public approved of it or not.
The NBA’s New All-Star Game Format
The NBA recently released its new All-Star format, just months ahead of the All-Star Game, which will be played at the Chase Center in San Francisco, California, on February 19, 2025. The city will be prepared to welcome fans and teams alike. The new format of four teams of eight players competing in a knockout-style competition, and the winners of each first to 40 semifinals will advance to the championship game hasn’t drawn much positivity.
Also, the new All-Star Game format will describe the fourth team as the Castrol Rising Stars champion. The All-Star Game’s honorary team general managers will be TNT analysts Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal, Kenny Smith, and Candace Parker. Barkley, 61, O’Neal, 52, and Smith, 59, will draft their team rosters from a pool of 24 All-Star selections, while Parker, 38, will serve as general manager for the Castrol Rising Stars champion.
Durant Appears To Wait and See
Kevin Durant might not be a man of many words, but Durant’s recent three-word reaction to the NBA’s new All-Star Game format isn’t completely negative. Though Durant appears to hate the league’s new format, he also appears to acknowledge the new format could become a success. Durant told reporters, “We’ll see how this one works, you never know. I might be wrong. I’m just another guy with another opinion but we’ll see how it works.”
The NBA’s new All-Star Game format hasn’t changed one thing. Fans are still able to vote for the players they want to be featured in the upcoming All-Star Game, as voting has been open since December 19. Also, the 2024 NBA All-Star made NBA history with a team passing the 200-point mark for the first time in the NBA’s history. The Eastern Conference team defeated the Western Conference team 211-186. The Eastern Conference won for the first time since 2014. The 2025 NBA All-Star Game will be on February 19, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. Pacific.
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