With friends like these who needs enemies? Golden State swingman Kevin Durant is telling everybody and anybody exactly how he really feels. The 2-Time NBA Finals MVP is gaining a reputation for being extremely blunt about his perspective to fans and about his fellow NBA players. Even Los Angeles Lakers megastar LeBron James is not above being shaded by Durant.
Earlier this month, Durant give remarks about the media attention that LeBron receives and how difficult it is to play with him.
“So much hype comes from being around LeBron from other people,” Durant said. “He has so many fanboys in the media. Even the beat writers just fawn over him. I’m like, we’re playing basketball here, and it’s not even about basketball at certain points. So, I get why anyone wouldn’t want to be in that environment because it’s toxic. Especially when the attention is bulls–t attention, fluff. It’s not LeBron’s fault at all; it’s just the fact you have so many groupies in the media that love to hang on every word. Just get out of the way and let us play basketball.”
Tell us how you really feel. Although Durant doesn’t blame LeBron per se, it’s quite interesting that he brought this up.
Yet again, some would say that Durant threw a subtle shot at LeBron again. Durant was again talking about the greatness of Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Kyrie Irving of all people. LeBron was not included in the discussion for some reason.
“Watching Kobe and Mike, I’m like, ‘How do you not realize how good these dudes are?’ How do you not say they’re by far better than anybody who’s played the game? Just by the way they move, how fluid they are. Everyone that comes to my house, whether it’s friends or family, I make them watch Jordan highlights. This is equivalent to (Albert) Einstein … fucking (Ludwig van) Beethoven … or (Barack) Obama. This is the greatest talent and athletes and minds of the world. Just because they play sports, people think one way. But they’re masters, they’re geniuses. I just started realizing that a few years ago: Watching those guys can really spark my creativity.”
LeBron doesn’t make the cut according to Durant’s litmus test. Some would argue that even though Durant has won two championships with the Warriors, he still hasn’t eclipsed LeBron as the best and most impactful player in the association. Whatever the case may be, Durant seems to be using the media to make the case for his own greatness.
