Chandler Parsons slams Doncic and Jokic for perceived lack of effort, questioning their superstar status after the All-Star Game showcase.
On one hand, the 2026 NBA All-Star Game carried genuine intrigue.
Team World squaring off against two Team USAs — Stars and Stripes — gave the weekend a narrative jolt it desperately needed. And at times, that storyline delivered. Victor Wembanyama played like the result actually mattered. The French star competed with noticeable intensity, attacked defensively, and showed visible frustration when Team World fell short of reaching the championship game.
On the other hand, some of Team World’s biggest names looked far less invested.
Luka Dončić and Nikola Jokić, two players routinely discussed as top-five talents in the league, logged minimal minutes and exerted what many perceived as the bare minimum effort. That approach didn’t sit well with former Memphis Grizzlies forward Chandler Parsons.
There were legitimate expectations that Team World would make noise with both Dončić and Jokić suited up. Instead, the two superstars treated the event cautiously. The Los Angeles Lakers superstar played just five minutes coming off an injury against Team Stars. He finished with two points and two assists on 1-of-3 shooting before sitting out the entire second game against Team Stripes.
Jokić followed a similar script. The Denver Nuggets center grabbed two rebounds and attempted just one field goal in five minutes against Team Stars before effectively benching himself. Like Dončić, he did not return for the second matchup.
Neither player appeared interested in pushing the issue, clearly prioritizing the health of their respective hamstring and knee concerns over an exhibition trophy.
Parsons did not hold back.
Speaking on the “Run It Back” show, he framed his frustration from the perspective of a neutral viewer unfamiliar with the NBA’s hierarchy.
“If I watched this weekend and the best 5-6 top players in the NBA are not from America, I wouldn't know that by watching the effort of Team World this weekend,” Parsons said.
He took it a step further, directly referencing the two European stars.
“I would have no idea that Jokic is a top player, Luka Doncic is the best player, by watching that format. They didn’t care.”
Parsons’ critique came while acknowledging that players on Team Stars and Team Stripes did inject visible energy into the new format. The USA vs. World structure was designed to manufacture competitiveness, and in stretches, it worked.
But the contrast was hard to ignore.
Dončić and Jokić routinely leave everything on the floor during meaningful regular-season and playoff battles. Their resumes speak for themselves. That’s precisely why their relaxed All-Star approach drew repeated criticism. Even before the event, Kevin Durant publicly grouped them into conversations about All-Star intensity. Parsons echoed that sentiment afterward, suggesting their casual demeanor on such a prominent stage rubbed many the wrong way.
At the same time, context remains important. Both players are carrying heavy workloads this season and have dealt with nagging injuries. The calculus in an exhibition game simply isn’t the same as it is in April or May.
Still, perception matters.
When the global game is on display and Team World is expected to showcase the league’s international dominance, fans anticipate more than five-minute cameos from its biggest stars.
If history tells us anything, though, it’s that both Dončić and Jokić tend to respond to criticism in familiar fashion — by turning it into fuel. And if that pattern holds, the second half of the 2025-26 season could serve as a reminder of exactly why their effort is rarely questioned when the games truly count.