Just two weeks into the NBA season, the tension is already reaching unprecedented levels. At the center of this storm is Phoenix Suns’ star, Kevin Durant.
Kevin Durant Slams ‘Clown’ Stephen A. Smith
Durant’s relationship with the media has always been precarious. In a recent interview, he had strong words for prominent media figure Stephen A. Smith, questioning the ESPN commentator’s commitment to his profession and noting that he has not seen Smith in the typical settings where reporters who truly follow the sport can be found.
“Yeah, Stephen A., I just don’t get how anybody even listens to him,” Durant told Doug Haller of The Athletic on November 3.
“I’ve been in the league for 18 years. I’ve never seen Stephen A. at a practice, or a film session, or a shoot-around. The only time I see him is on TV, talking s—t about players… To me, he’s a clown. He’s always been a clown. You can put that in writing, too.”
Durant and Stephen A. Smith’s Previous Conflict
This is not the first encounter between Durant and Smith. During Durant’s time with the Brooklyn Nets, Smith raised the question of whether Durant’s career would be tarnished if he couldn’t secure an NBA championship alongside superstars Kyrie Irving and James Harden.
“If [the Nets] don’t win a championship… Kevin Durant risks being remembered more for leaving Steph Curry to join Kyrie Irving than for his two titles and two Finals MVPs,” Smith remarked.
In response to Smith’s assertion about his legacy, Durant offered just a one-word reply: “Egregious.”
After Durant’s reaction to Smith’s initial remarks concerning KD’s legacy, Smith somewhat agreed but elaborated on why his original statement still holds weight.
“It’s absolutely Egregious, [Kevin Durant],” Smith tweeted. “Totally wrong and unfair to the highest degree. But it also happens to be true. Those will be the headlines all off-season. I’m not saying it’s fair at all because it’s not. You deserve better. But those will be the headlines. You can count on it!”
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