Former teammates Kevin Durant and Kendrick Perkins have been known to express a little animosity towards each other ever since their playing days on the Oklahoma City Thunder.
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Now a decade later, Perkins has come out claiming that he was the leader of the team, that also consisted of Russell Westbrook and James Harden, who made it to multiple Conference Finals appearances together.
"It doesn't mean your best player is your leader," Perkins said. "When I was with the Thunder, it wasn't KD, it wasn't Russ, it wasn't James, I was the one leading."
He continued, "I was the glue. KD knows. When I got in there, I made sure that everyone was on the same page. I made sure we were all a unit...Ask Troy Weaver, Sam Presti, you can even ask Scott Brooks. KD knows!"
Apparently, KD doesn't know, because the 15x All-Star seemingly refuted his statement by responding, "This comment is by far the craziest s*** I've seen this week."
I know this may be a reach but this comment is by far the craziest shit I’ve seen this week https://t.co/kNbncZhIUH
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) February 6, 2025
Perkins also was vocal about Durant alleged lack of leadership, in view of him not winning a championship while on the Thunder, Brooklyn Nets, and now currently Phoenix Suns.
"Another organization, another failure for Kevin Durant," Perkins said.
Kendrick Perkins & Bob Myers debate Phoenix being another failed organization for Kevin Durant pic.twitter.com/s4QYPBfGY7
— Alex 👋 (@Dubs408) February 6, 2025
Much of the animosity stems from KD jumping ship from the Thunder to join the 73-9 record Warriors after the 2015-16 Conference Finals loss.
As Perkins actually referenced this when calling out Durant on Twitter back in 2020.
"Boy stop you did the weakest move in NBA history!!! Up on a team 3-1 in the western conference finals and then go join them the following season?! Heart of Champion right there."
Kevin Durant and Kendrick Perkins exchange some words over Twitter👀 pic.twitter.com/LfwEQ0GDUy
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) January 10, 2020
And after winning two championships (2017, 2018) and 2x Finals MVPs with Golden State, Kevin Durant's name was involved in trade talks with his former team ahead of this season's February 6 deadline.
The Golden State Warriors reportedly underestimated Kevin Durant’s “coldness” toward the organization. Even a conversation between Steph Curry and Durant left Curry feeling that a reunion was unlikely, per @anthonyVslater
“At some point in the last several days, Stephen Curry… pic.twitter.com/VwxDWQU0cK
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) February 6, 2025
However, KD shutdown a potential three-team trade that would have reunited him with Stephen Curry and Draymond Green.
Bob Myers speculates on why Kevin Durant may have been reluctant to come back to the Warriors:
"He's the only one in the whole equation that took criticism for [coming to GS in 2016]. I didn't, Joe Lacob didn't, Steve Kerr didn't, Steph Curry didn't, Draymond Green didn't. Only… pic.twitter.com/KJJh6FlW93
— KNBR (@KNBR) February 6, 2025
All in all, this is isn't the first time that Durant and Perkins have gone back-and-forth on social media, and it probably won't be the last.
Yea and our starting center @KendrickPerkins averaged a whopping 2 and 3 during that series. U played hard tho champ lol
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) January 10, 2020
Related: The 2012 Oklahoma City Thunder: A Western Conference Dynasty That Never Was
