Kevin Durant on NBA introducing pick-up game rules for NBA All-Star draft: "It would be fire if we picked right before the game”
The NBA announced that the 2023 All-Star Game selections will be different than they have been in the past. Lately, the captains of the two teams would pick who they were drafting for their teams on television days before the event. It's certainly caused some hilarious moments, particularly when Kevin Durant didn't know who to pick when it was between James Harden and Rudy Gobert last season.
That was when James had just decided he didn't want to play in Brooklyn anymore and was traded to Philadelphia.
Durant actually pondered this very change in a recent episode of his podcast.
"It would be fire if we picked like right before the game, though," Durant said. "Let me get him. Let me get him. Have the jerseys ready. Have everything ready. Have two jerseys ready for no matter what. ... Got two pair of shoes for both, and y'all just pick the teams."
KD suggested having the All-Star Draft before the game on his podcast
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Perhaps the NBA heard what Durant said and decided to go with the idea from one of basketball's best players.
Kevin Durant could be back for All-Star Game
There are still worries that Kevin Durant could miss the All-Star game after injuring his knee. While the treatment seems to be going well, Durant said that he doesn't want to rush anything.
"I want to play tomorrow if I can," Durant said in his first comments since suffering the injury earlier this month. "So, that's what my sense of urgency is. Obviously, I don't want to rush anything. I want to make sure I'm 100%. But, yeah, I want to play. I want to be a part of all these events.
"I missed going back to Golden State, my previous home. So, it's been three years since I did that. You see all this stuff pass you by, so I want to participate in everything. I know I got to take my time and make sure I do my rehab and get back on the floor."
Durant spoke about what it means to him to go back to play against his former teammates. He hasn't played against LeBron James since Dec. 25, 2018. It was the Christmas contest between the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers.
"I was just like, s***, another year of not playing against my old teammates, another year of, at that point, maybe missing the All-Star Game and not playing against LeBron James at home," Durant said. "Stuff like that that I look forward to. On top of playing every game, I just look forward to that stuff. But it's part of basketball as well."
At this point in the season, Durant realizes that the Brooklyn Nets can win an NBA championship. Because of that, the idea of him playing in the All-Star Game might not outweigh a possible ring. If Durant does play, he could just come in for a few minutes to let the fans get a show.