Kevin Durant Is Done Being Politically Correct With The Media
Kevin Durant has always had a reputation for being polite when interacting with the media, even a bit bland, but it’s amazing how a subpar place team and a string of injuries can change things.
The Oklahoma City Thunder forward has been increasingly testy, culminating with a tense exchange with reporters at the All Star Weekend, in which Durant told the assembled group, “You guys really don’t know s***.”
Durant was responding to questions about whether his coach, Scott Brooks, might be fired amid a lackluster campaign that has the team outside the playoff picture looking in.
Kevin Durant didn’t take well to the questions, so a reporter asked him what kind of questions he would like instead. Durant channeled Marshawn Lynch in his answer.
“To be honest, man, I’m only here talking to y’all because I have to,” Durant said.
“So I really don’t care. Y’all not my friends. You’re going to write what you want to write. You’re going to love us one day and hate us the next. That’s a part of it. So I just learn how to deal with y’all.”
Durant also noted the change in his demeanor, saying it was part of growing up and finding his place in the league.
“My first few years in the league, I was just finding myself,” Durant said Friday.
“I think most of the time, I reacted based off of what everybody else wanted and how they viewed me as a person. I am just learning to be myself, not worrying about what everybody else says, I am going to make mistakes. I just want to show kids out here that athletes, entertainers, whoever, so-called celebrities, we aren’t robots. We go through emotions and go through feelings and I am just trying to express mine and try to help people along the way. I am not going to sit here and tell you that I am just this guy that is programmed to say the right stuff all the time and politically correct answers. I am done with that. I am just trying to be me and continue to grow as a man.”
Kevin Durant also spoke out against one of the most important functions of the media — voting on player awards. Durant said he thinks that should come directly from the players themselves.
[Image via USA Today]
