Phoenix Suns superstar Kevin Durant has often been labeled as “sensitive” due to his habit of defending himself on social media.
In a recent interview with Melissa Rohlin of Fox Sports, Durant hit back at the narrative, pointing out that other NBA stars such as LeBron James, Draymond Green, and Damian Lillard also speak up on social media, but are not labeled as “sensitive.”
Kevin Durant doesn’t understand why people call him ‘sensitive’
“I see Damian Lillard, I see LeBron, I see Draymond, I see lots of great players in our league speak up on social media, but they don't get that 'sensitive' rep,”
(Via @melissarohlin https://t.co/khb2uAA7Cy) pic.twitter.com/JFZ8qVeNad
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) April 13, 2023
Durant expressed his frustration with the double standard, stating, “I don’t see this talked about. I see Damian Lillard, I see LeBron, I see Draymond, I see lots of great players in our league speak up on social media, but they don’t get that ‘sensitive’ rep. But it’s just like I’ve seen it, it’s not just a ‘me’ thing, like, there are a lot of players amongst a lot of sports that interact with their people on Twitter, Instagram, socials, and I don’t hear the ‘sensitive’ rep about them.”
The star player went on to explain why he chooses to speak up so often, saying that he wants to dispute any inaccuracies that are being portrayed about him to fans. He also believes that social media is a great way for fans to gain insight into the lives and thoughts of NBA players.
Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) easily had the best ankle breaker from this season.
That’s really a dead body on an NBA court 😂
Best crossover from a 7 footer in league History. pic.twitter.com/20JfdYWdyy
— Bradeaux (@BradeauxNBA) April 13, 2023
Durant acknowledged that his decision to leave Oklahoma City for Golden State in 2016 still contributes to the negative perception some people have of him. However, he cannot understand why he is targeted in a way that other players are not.
It is clear that Durant is frustrated with the “sensitive” label and the double standard that exists when it comes to how NBA players are perceived on social media.
He is not alone in speaking up on social media, and it is unfair to label him as overly sensitive when other players do the same without facing the same criticism. As one of the best players in the league, Durant should be judged solely on his performance on the court, not his activity on social media.
Silencing the Greats: Kevin Durant Speaks Out on Criticism and Controversy Surrounding Move to Warriors
Kevin Durant, the former MVP, has revealed that he feels people want to silence him due to the controversial move he made in 2016 from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Golden State Warriors.
Despite not playing for the Warriors since the 2018-19 season, Durant continues to face criticism for his decision to join the very team that he and the OKC Thunder lost a 3-1 lead against in the playoffs. Fans in Oklahoma City still boo Durant when he plays at Paycom Center, and he feels like people use his move against him to silence him.
During an interview with Fox Sports, The phenomenon said, “You know what happened. Because I went to the Warriors. People still don’t like that part of everything. People want to silence me for some reason. I mean, I can’t pinpoint exactly why.”
Durant added that he sees other players interact with their fans on social media, but they don’t receive the same criticism he does. Despite the criticism, Durant has learned to block out the noise, as great players do.
