Kevin Durant, recognized for his forthrightness, had some blunt comments regarding NBA commentator Stephen A. Smith, who recently challenged Durant’s leadership abilities with the Suns.
Feeling frustrated by Smith’s assessments, Durant shared his perspective in an interview with The Athletic, published on Sunday.
“Yeah, Stephen A., I don’t see how anyone can take him seriously,” Durant told The Athletic Saturday night. “I’ve been in the league for 18 years, and I’ve never seen Stephen A. at a practice, a film session, or a shoot-around. He’s only ever on TV putting players down. … To me, he’s a clown. He’s always been a clown. You can write that, too.”
Durant’s remarks were prompted by a segment from First Take last month, where Smith expressed doubts about the Suns’ viability as genuine championship contenders, primarily attributing this to what he views as Durant’s lack of leadership.
“I don’t question the greatness or commitment of Kevin Durant,” Smith had said at the time. “When you are that great … you should be able to show more effective leadership than he has demonstrated.”
In a follow-up on X, Durant countered, saying, “I would disagree, Stephen. I would argue, passionately, that my intangibles have always matched my talent.”
During his discussion with The Athletic, Durant clarified that he remains the “same dude” when asked if he has become more vocal this season.
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