ALL-STAR GAME

February 18, 2024

Kevin Durant

Western Conference

Press Conference

East 211, West 186

Q. Kevin, two things. One, just your thoughts on the game. Obviously a record 211 points. I know guys have talked about trying to make it more competitive, but just your thoughts on the game itself.

KEVIN DURANT: The shot-making from the East was incredible. Hard to play defense when somebody is shooting 30-, 40-footers. Great display of shooting tonight. Like I said, record-setting points was pretty cool.

Q. The question after that is obviously you guys are going into the second half of the season, looks like you're going to be healthy going into the Dallas game. How big will that be moving forward with what you guys are trying to accomplish?

KEVIN DURANT: Good test for us. They're playing well lately, and they've got some new additions to their team, which is going to challenge us. It's a great game to start the second half of the season with.

Q. This year, more changes to the Saturday night events. Do you think the league is doing a good job in making the events more entertaining for the fans?

KEVIN DURANT: Yeah. I feel like the league is always looking out for the fans and trying to keep their interest high. This All-Star Weekend has gone on for a long, long time, so to keep people engaged is tough to do.

I think they're doing the best job that they can. People are always excited for All-Star Weekend. I think they do the best -- a great job of trying to keep everybody engaged all the time.

Q. KD, it's 20 straight All-Star appearances for LeBron. You've seen a lot of these from him. Just what appreciation do you have for what it's taken out of him to sustain it at this age this late in the game?

KEVIN DURANT: It's just a testament to the hard work and the enthusiasm he has for the game of basketball. Obviously, multitalented at everything on the floor. But I think anybody in any walk of life could pick up on his love and care for the game of basketball, his teammates and just helping to push the game forward.

I think everybody could take from that and learn. His story has been inspiring for the last 20 years.

Q. You obviously got to play with Steph. You talked about the incredible shot-making tonight. Just what have you seen from Dame pushing that distance further and further out as years have gone by?

KEVIN DURANT: Me and Kawhi was in awe of them shooting from the three-point line like it was a free throw. That's strength, power, muscle memory. That's someone who works extremely hard every day on their craft to be able to do that without flinching. It was just normal and natural motion.

Those are supreme athletes, and it's good we get to celebrate them on weekends like that. Pretty cool he gets to bring the All-Star MVP back to his hometown and back to his family.

Q. You guys have one of the toughest schedules remaining the rest of the way. Are those conversations that you all have with the team, and what are you looking forward to learning most about your team through that?

KEVIN DURANT: We don't talk about the strength of schedule. We respect every team regardless and try to focus on us as much as possible each night. It just about building our habits, getting better at what we've already established and pushing forward.

I think playing against some of the teams that's going to be there at the end of the season, it's going to be a great test before we head to the playoffs.

Q. What do you think of the jump that Tyrese Haliburton has made this season and him finding that balance between going into kill mode and still being a team player?

KEVIN DURANT: I think that's a balance you always try to figure out each and every game, maybe something different. I think, when he has the ball in his hands and he's controlling the game, Coach can ask him anything, for him to score or get his teammates involved. He's up and able to do anything coach asks him.

His teammates love him. Fans love him. I'm excited to watch his career going forward because I know he's going to do some incredible things here in Indiana. But just for the game of basketball as a whole, you can tell he's one of those point guards that the next generation, kids in elementary school, middle school kids will be looking up to.

It's cool he got his opportunity and got his franchise to kind of run on his own.

Q. Over the years, the All-Star Game has evolved as a platform to really shed light on issues that need to be brought up. This year it was a platform to really showcase women's empowerment with Steph and Sabrina. Over the years, how have you seen the All-Star Game evolve into this platform to bring issues to light that really need to be brought to light?

KEVIN DURANT: It's always been that way with NBA, and since the social media era, you see more and more of that. I think guys in the past have stood up for what they believe in, social issues in the league, and that's given us the confidence to go out and do it as well in this generation.

We're only doing what the greats have done before us. They set a great example when it comes to that. It's good we have such a huge platform to get a message out quick to anybody around the world.

Q. KD, you've experienced both formats, drafting your teammates and going back to the East and West conference format. Which for you is better? Which gives better intensity? Like you went back to the old format. Do you think you should go back to that?

KEVIN DURANT: I like East and West always. I like playing conference versus conference, the traditional way that I grew up on. Hopefully we go back to playing in our own jerseys too.

Traditional way, the way that the picking teams, all that stuff, it doesn't matter. It's all about the product on the court and celebrating the best players in the league at that moment.

Q. We talked about some of the older guys. We talked about some of the younger guys. For you personally, what keeps you going not only to make it to All-Star, but make deep runs in the playoffs? And then just what keeps you going every year?

KEVIN DURANT: I just love my job. I love getting up and doing what I do every day. It's just in my DNA at this point to just get at that hoop.

I enjoy every part of it. There's stressful times, but I enjoy it too. Honestly, when I'm out of those stressful times, it's cool to look back and get better at both. I just love my job. I want to do it as long as I can.