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The Warriors Star Unloads on the Format, Barkley and Other Greats Respond
The NBA’s 2025 All-Star Game was supposed to be a fresh take on the classic event. Instead, it sparked a heated debate, with Draymond Green leading the charge against the new format.
The league scrapped the traditional East vs. West matchup in favor of a mini four-team tournament, culminating in Team Shaquille O’Neal defeating Team Charles Barkley 41-25 in the championship round. While Green’s teammate, Steph Curry, claimed MVP honors, Green wasn’t impressed. In fact, he gave the event a flat-out zero.
Green Blasts the New Format
“You work all year to be an All-Star, and you get to play up to 40, and then you’re done,” Green vented during the All-Star festivities.
He specifically took issue with how the format robbed young stars like Victor Wembanyama and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the chance to cement their legacies.
“When you talk about chasing after the points record—Melo, Kobe, and all these guys that had great scoring nights—they don’t get the opportunity to do that with this game. All so we can watch some rising stars.”
The four-time champion didn’t stop there. He expanded his criticism to the league as a whole, saying the NBA’s current style of play is “boring” and lacks the depth of previous eras.
“Every possession is some type of chess move. You don’t get that today in the NBA often,” Green said. “It’s just who can run faster, who can hit more threes. It’s no substance.”
Barkley Fires Back
Charles Barkley, never one to shy away from a debate, clapped back at Green’s criticism, putting the blame on today’s players.
“I’m going to disagree with Draymond a lot,” Barkley said. “I use the analogy—when the kids mess up the house, you make them clean it up, and they’re complaining.”
According to Barkley, Green’s generation “messed the game up” by not taking past All-Star Games seriously, contributing to the changes that Green now despises.
Oscar Robertson and Kevin Durant Weigh In
NBA legend Oscar Robertson wasn’t any more sympathetic. He dismissed Green’s complaints and even took a personal shot at his playing style.
“Who cares what Draymond says? It doesn’t mean anything,” Robertson remarked. “The game is what it is. Either people like it, or they don’t… It might be boring to him because if he’s not passing the ball to Curry, what is he doing?”
Meanwhile, Kevin Durant responded in his usual sarcastic fashion, posting on X/Twitter:
“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…”
A Growing Divide
Green’s comments highlight a growing divide between modern NBA stars and league legends over how the game should be played and celebrated. While the 2025 All-Star Game may have been an attempt at innovation, it clearly didn’t win over everyone—especially Draymond Green.