We are only in the second week of the NBA season, and the drama is already at an all-time high. And the catalyst is Phoenix Suns superstar, Kevin Durant.
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Kevin Durant Rips 'Clown' Stephen A. Smith
Durant has always had a finicky relationship with the media. And in a recent interview, he put star media pundit Stephen A. Smith on blast. Durant challenged the ESPN analyst's dedication to his own craft noting that he has not seen him in spaces that reporters who adequately cover the game usually are.
"Yeah, Stephen A., I don't understand how people even listen to Stephen A.," Durant said to 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. I've never seen him anywhere but on TV talking s—t about players. ... He's a clown to me. He's always been a clown. You can write that, too."
Suns Star Had Previous Beef With ESPN Analyst
This isn't the first time Durant and Stephen A. have butted heads. Back when Durant was with the Brooklyn Nets, Smith questioned whether there would be a stain on Durant's career if he was unable to win an NBA title in Brooklyn with fellow superstars Kyrie Irving and James Harden.
"If [the Nets] do not win a championship. ... Kevin Durant is on the verge of being recognized more so for the guy that left Steph Curry to go with Kyrie Irving than he is for the two chips and two finals MVPs," Smith said.
Durant had just a one-word response to Smith's claim. "Egregious."
After Durant responded to Smith's initial take about KD's legacy, Smith agreed with him before elaborating why his initial statement still remains true.
"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 book it!"
