Kenny Smith questions international NBA players’ willingness to play hard in All-Star Game

Kenny Smith made some very questionable NBA All-Star draft decisions, highlighted by his reasoning for snubbing the international players.

Earlier this season, the NBA announced an entirely new format for its All-Star game, revealing it would feature a four-teams competing in a three-game mini-tournament. Three of the teams would be comprised of 24 NBA All Stars. The fourth team will be the winner of the Rising Stars game.

Thursday night on Inside the NBA, Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith held a draft to divide the 24 All Stars into three teams. Smith was widely roasted for his team, a roster noticeably devoid of international players, which appeared to be by design.

With his third pick, Smith teased wanting a young, athletic big before selecting Jaren Jackson Jr, prompting Ernie Johnson to note Victor Wembanyama was still on the board.

“I don’t think the international guys are gonna play hard” – Kenny Smith during NBA All-Star Draft pic.twitter.com/z6awWl8S0v

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) February 7, 2025

“Yeah, but I don’t think the international guys are gonna play hard,” Smith said, a hot take that garnered surprise from Johnson. “In general, I just don’t. Because they’re worldwide.”

First of all, it’s the NBA All-Star Game. No one plays hard. That’s why the entire weekend has deteriorated and the league has been forced to try new formats like a four-team mini-tournament. But Smith can’t really believe the All-Star Game would have been competitive in recent years if it didn’t have international players, right?

There were curious decisions across the board in this draft. Assessing the rosters, it very much looks like Shaq went with a veteran team, while Smith went young and Barkley opted for international players, possibly by design. But it was Smith’s reasoning for snubbing the international players that stood out.

In the end, what are we really talking about here? We’re talking about an exhibition game that fans have rapidly lost interest in. But it’s baseless to assume Nikola Jokić, Giannis Antetokounmpo, or Victor Wembanyama are going to try any less than Anthony Edwards, Jayson Tatum or Kevin Durant. And for Smith to seemingly push tired and debunked tropes about international players was unnecessary.