Two NBA superstars have named Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets as one of the players responsible for the All-Star Game becoming boring in recent years.
Kevin Durant was the first to mention the Serbian star when asked before All-Star Weekend whether the “old heads” would play harder than usual. He said it was unfair that Americans were being asked that question when, in his view, some European players appeared disinterested in the festivities.
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“We haven’t questioned what they’ve been doing, but we question the old heads, the Americans. But these two dudes out there, Luka and Jokic, they don’t care about the game at all,” the Houston Rockets star said last week.
The All-Star Game took place, and Jokic played in one of the two games under the new format. He logged just five minutes and attempted only one shot.
Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards, who won the ASG MVP award, followed Durant’s lead and called out Jokic and Doncic for not caring enough. The latest format has led some to believe that this was the most competitive ASG in a long time.
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Denver Nuggets star Nikola Jokic warms up for the 2026 All-Star Game in Los AngelesKirby Lee-Imagn Images
(Kirby Lee-Imagn Images)
Accusations that Jokic does not care date back to when the Denver Nuggets won the 2023 NBA championship. He was criticized for saying that winning the title was “not everything in the world” and then appearing less enthusiastic when asked if he would attend the championship parade.
The three-time MVP is clearing things up. He sat down with Malika Andrews of ESPN and said that he does care deeply about basketball, and that people may have misunderstood his personality.
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“I care a lot,” Jokic told Andrews.
“I think if you don’t care for winning, you’re not supposed to be in this sport. It’s just my personality, maybe a little bit different in how I accept victory and success, but I think I care about basketball, and I love to play basketball.”
To further drive his point, he also said during the interview that he plans to play the game for a long time.
This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on Feb 19, 2026, where it first appeared in the NBA section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.