1-on-1 at All-Star Weekend? Kevin Durant shares thoughts on who would show out

The NBA All-Star weekend feels like a revolving door of different playground hoops activities each and every season.

The league has gone from the classic East vs. West format, to two teams drafted by player captains, and to this season’s multi-team tournament format on All-Star Sunday.

Of course, the Friday and Saturday showcases have taken on new life — remember when the dunk contest featured non-G League players?

And, as we see almost every year now, the idea of a 1-on-1 tournament was back on the mood board in San Francisco.

When asked about adding a 1-on-1 tournament to All-Star by the NBATV crew on Saturday, Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant gave himself the highest praise.

“Of course, I would have to go with myself,” Durant said.

But, in a league full of offensive talent, Durant was sure to shout out some other potential favorites — including the San Antonio Spurs young phenom Victor Wembanyama.

“There are so many good 1-on-1 players in our league,” he said. “I don’t think it would be easy to predict who would come out on top. But, if I had to say one guy it would be Wemby. I have (Jayson) Tatum in there too — the long athletic guys. I just feel like there are a lot of guys who can come out and put on a show 1-on-1 so that would be a cool addition to All-Star Weekend.”

“Of course I would have to go with myself” 🗣️

KD is more than ready for the idea of a future 1-on-1 #NBAAllStar tourney 👀 pic.twitter.com/wZu25FNcQC

— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 15, 2025

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards called Durant the one to beat in a hypothetical 1-on-1 tournament — adding another wrinkle to the pair’s public respect for each other.

“Kevin Durant, for sure,” Edwards said.

“Anytime you’re playing somebody where, like, any shot that they take is a good shot,” he added. “… Like, sometimes for me, if my body’s a certain way, I’m like, ‘Ah, that’s a bad shot for me,’ because I’m not used to it. I’m not accustomed to being like this. I want to be comfortable when I shoot.”

“Kevin Durant, fosho” 😂

Ant Man agrees with KD that he’s the one to beat in a potential #NBAAllStar 1-on-1 tournament ⭐️ https://t.co/fa5wm0Meqa pic.twitter.com/k4SpDZVkWd

— NBA TV (@NBATV) February 15, 2025

Who could compete in a 1-on-1 tourney at All-Star Weekend?

Let’s take a second to think about a hypothetical 1-on-1 tournament at All-Star Weekend.

Who exactly would make sense? Let’s lay down some ground rules first, using the recent Unrivaled 1-on-1 tournament as inspiration.

Games would be played with a 10-minute running clock, played to 11 (or if the clock hits zero whoever is up wins) and scoring would be by 2s and 3s.

Durant is an obvious favorite choice, as a 6-foot-11-inch (or more depending who you believe) versatile scorer with a patented hesi pull-up jimbo. He very well could he the odds-on favorite if the NBA ever made such an event happen.

Well-known tall Frenchman Wembanyama is a fun one in a similar but supersized vein as Durant. Wembanyama’s sheer 7-foot-3-inch stature and wingspan could make him a cheat code in certain 1-on-1 matchups.

Tatum is another great idea, again, in a similar make-up as the other two we have mentioned. A large wing/forward with guard-like ball skills and one of the best jumpers in the NBA.

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has a crafty toolkit that allows him to slither his way to the rim and get by most defenders, despite not having the most consistent jumper from long range.

Smaller guards like Stephen Curry, Kyrie Irving, Jalen Brunson and Damian Lillard all have a knack to get separation from larger defenders in creative ways — and varied ways at the rim, mid-range or the 3-point line.

Wildcard: Hear us out. If Mac McClung can make himself a star by showing up at the dunk contest each year, then maybe Bol Bol can use his absurd length and surprisingly soft touch to make a run in a 1-on-1 tournament.

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