Stephen A. Smith recently decided to respond to Kevin Durant’s recent comment about Smith’s earlier statement on the NBA All-Star Game’s current state.
While the league has made big strides in other areas over the years, many believe the All-Star Game has taken a step back. After hearing that NBA commissioner Adam Silver will introduce a new format for the 2025-26 season, Smith warned that this could be the last chance for modern-day stars to redeem themselves before the event is potentially shut down.
Durant, currently in the middle of a long offseason with the Phoenix Suns, took notice. His short response on social media urged Smith to revisit the topic and defend his stance once more.
Kevin Durant Calls Stephen A. Smith “Dramatic” Over All-Star Game Take
Fans who’ve followed Durant over the years know the two-time NBA champion has had his share of dramatic moments. But that didn’t stop him from turning the label back on Smith after hearing the ESPN analyst’s warning that the All-Star Game might be canceled if players don’t start taking it seriously.
Dramatic https://t.co/6l250nqCAL
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) June 5, 2025
While Smith is also known for being theatrical, he wasn’t about to let Durant’s comment slide. He opened his rebuttal by showing a scene from General Hospital, where he made a cameo appearance—his way of highlighting what real drama looks like. Then he got serious.
“It has been egregious. … The fans have been turned off. Legends of the game have been turned off. … You can’t come on the basketball court and give less effort than you would give in a damn workout in the summer. You can’t do that to people.”
.@stephenasmith responds to Kevin Durant calling his NBA All-Star Game comments “dramatic.” 👀
“It has been egregious. … The fans have been turned off. Legends of the game have been turned off. … You can’t come on the basketball court and give less effort than you would… pic.twitter.com/r3O7q75gPY
— First Take (@FirstTake) June 6, 2025
Smith makes a strong case. Anyone who has watched offseason pickup runs or summer workouts knows they’re often more intense than the actual All-Star Game. Several NBA legends have also publicly criticized how little effort is shown during the exhibition.
Becoming an All-Star is still a goal for every top player in the league, so perhaps this criticism will push players to treat the game with more respect next season. If not, Smith’s prediction that the event could be scrapped entirely might not be far off—and that could reflect poorly on today’s stars.
