National Basketball Association

Kevin Durant slams new NBA All-Star format: 'Absolutely hate it'

Updated Dec. 17, 2024 4:25 p.m. ET

The NBA announced the format for the 2024 All-Star Game in San Francisco on Tuesday: a new, four-team tournament with three, eight-player All-Star teams and one Rising Stars team.

The revamped format is the league's latest attempt to make All-Star Weekend's main event competitive and entertaining again. Last year, the All-Star Game ended with both teams combining for 397 points in a lopsided 211-186 game.

While there's plenty of time for public opinion to change between now and the game on Feb. 16, the format is divisive, to say the least. In fact, Kevin Durant isn't a fan at all.

"I hate it," the Phoenix Suns star told reporters on Tuesday. "Absolutely hate it. The All-Star Game format is changing and the other formats, all of it is terrible, in my opinion. We should just go back to East vs. West and just play a game.

"I think we've been trying to bring that flair back with All-Star Weekend but I think we should just keep it traditional. We'll see how this one works. You never know, I might be wrong. I'm just another guy with another opinion."

[2024 NBA All-Star tournament: Everything you need to know about the new, 3-team format]

Durant has been voted an All-Star 14 times in his career dating back to 2010, including last season, and is likely to be voted an All-Star again this season with averages of 25.7 points and 6.5 rebounds per game.

Durant's mind might change once the dust is settled, like LeBron James and the Play-In Tournament, but this isn't a great start for the format, and Durant's only the first of what will likely be many players giving their opinion on the format.

[Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily.]

FOLLOW Follow your favorites to personalize your FOX Sports experience