Victor Wembanyama has pledged to bring an intense, energetic approach to the NBA All-Star Game, while Kevin Durant has knocked back criticism of the event.

The format of the All-Star Break has been changed for 2026, with players being split into two separate United States teams and a third side representing the rest of the world.

Wembanyama will join Nikola Jokic and Luka Doncic among the rest of the world's starters, with Karl-Anthony Towns and Pascal Siakam among the other stars likely to be involved. Reigning league MVP Shai Gilgeous Alexander is out injured, as is Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The All-Star Game has been the subject of heavy criticism in recent years, with players being accused of a lack of intensity and defensive effort, particularly after the Eastern Conference defeated the West 211-186 in 2024.

But Wembanyama plans to be competitive on his second appearance at the event. 

"Exclamation-point plays, playing in a solid manner and sharing the ball with energy," Wembanyama said on Saturday, when asked how he would approach the event. 

"If you share that energy, people feel like they have a responsibility to share it back with you."

 USA vs. WORLD in the City of Angels 

Watch the NBA's brightest stars take center stage at Intuit Dome for the 75th NBA All-Star Game, Sunday at 5:00pm/et on NBC & Peacock! pic.twitter.com/tHArXNLHt9

— NBA (@NBA) February 15, 2026

Durant is part of the USA Stripes team, which also features LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, Jaylen Brown and Jalen Brunson, and he does not believe the negative coverage of the event is warranted.

"I just feel like fans and the media need something to complain about, and the All-Star Game doesn't make them feel like they felt when they were kids," Durant said. 

"They need something to complain about. I don't think it's that big of a deal, to be honest, the All-Star Game. We're just here to celebrate the game of basketball. 

"People are still coming to celebrate the game of basketball. They're coming to watch. People at home are complaining about the game and the intensity of it."

Durant also said he had watched footage of past All-Star Games and argued the event has always suffered from the same lack of big-game intensity. 

He added: "I wanted to see what the big deal was and if it was really that much intensity, like Game 7 of the playoffs, like you all said it was back then... and it wasn't.

"The intensity the older generation has been talking about, I don't know if I've seen it, you know?"

The 2026 All-Star Game will see the three teams face off in a round-robin format in 12-minute games, with a championship contest then taking place between the top two teams at the Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.