Suns’ Kevin Durant, fed up with leadership criticism, calls ESPN star ‘a clown to me’

3 weeks ago

0 64 5 minutes read

Suns’ Kevin Durant, fed up with leadership criticism, calls ESPN star ‘a clown to me’

PHOENIX — Mike Budenholzer was recently asked about Kevin Durant’s leadership over the past month. The first-year Phoenix Suns coach didn’t hold back. He said Durant has been “off the charts.” He praised Durant’s actions. He praised his voice. And he said the veteran forward has set the tone for the Phoenix organization.

Following Saturday night’s 103-97 win over the Portland Trail Blazers, which pushed the Suns’ record to 5-1, Durant was asked for his response to Budenholzer’s comments.

First, Durant wanted to know something: “Why did you ask him that?” he said.

Durant’s leadership isn’t a new NBA topic, but during an Oct. 24 episode of “First Take,” ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith used it as a reason to go against the Suns as a serious candidate. The popular basketball analyst praised Durant’s greatness and dedication, but questioned the 14-time All-Star’s leadership and ability to inspire teammates.

After “First Take” posted the segment on social media, Durant responded to

In the Phoenix locker room Saturday night, after several teammates had already left Footprint Center, Durant spoke more forcefully.

“Yes, Stephen A., I don’t understand how people even listen to Stephen A.,” he said The Athletics. “I’ve been in the league for eighteen years. I have never seen Stephen A. during a training session, film session or shoot-around. I’ve never seen him anywhere other than on TV talking about players. … He’s a clown to me. He’s always been a clown. You can write that too.”

I don’t agree with that Stefan. I would passionately argue that my intangibles have always been aligned with my talent

— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) October 24, 2024

Smith, who spent more than three decades as an NBA and general sports columnist and multimedia personality, is not the first to question Durant’s leadership. Perhaps the sport’s most influential voice, Charles Barkley called Durant a ‘follower’ during last season’s NBA All-Star weekend. If it’s not a sensitive topic for Durant, it’s an irritating one.

Durant doesn’t claim to be a perfect basketball player — “Of course I have things I need to work on,” he said — but he said that when people try to find something to criticize his play with, they often settle for leadership, ” Things that are so vague and subjective.”

For much of his nine seasons with the Oklahoma City Thunder, he was widely regarded as a leader of an up-and-coming team. At the end of each season, The Oklahoman published report cards on each player. Durant often got an A when it comes to efficiency, defensive recovery – and leadership. A headline about him in the Charlotte Observer once read: “Thunder Star provides leadership to a team in transition, but with expectations.”

Since leaving Oklahoma City in 2016, Durant has played for Golden State, where he won two titles, Brooklyn and Phoenix. And often, even as he climbs to eighth on the NBA career scoring list, his leadership qualities shine through, especially when his teams fail to live up to expectations.

In a recent phone interview, former Suns assistant coach Kevin Young said leadership comes in different forms. During his four seasons with the Suns, point guard Chris Paul led more with his voice, while Durant did so with his work habits. Young said there is no secret sauce for Durant. He shows up every day and works hard. Then he shows up the next day and does the same thing. And the next day.

“But make no mistake: Kev speaks out during film sessions,” said Young, now the head coach at BYU. “Kev wants to win. He’s probably louder behind the scenes than I think people realize. At least in my experience he was.”

With Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, the Suns were expected to compete last season. Instead, they won 49 games and were swept in the first round of the postseason. The Athletics reported after the season that Durant wasn’t always happy with the way he was used on offense, but he might not have been adamant about raising those concerns with the coaching staff either. In May, owner Mat Ishbia and the front office fired then-coach Frank Vogel and later hired Budenholzer, setting the organization in a new direction.

Durant, of course, remained a focal point.

“We’re kind of going through the camp phase of life, but how hard he went in camp, the practices and the different things,” Budenholzer said of Durant last week. “He set the tone for us as an organization, for us as a team. And that’s not just because of leadership. It was his voice. He has put his arms around young players. He has put his arm around veterans. He put his arm around me. It’s something that’s important to us. I don’t know if he likes it or knows it, but I will continue to encourage him to be the best he can be in every way, including as a leader.”

When asked if he has tried to be more vocal this season, the 36-year-old Durant said he was “the same guy.”

“Obviously you grow as a person, you feel more comfortable, you feel more comfortable talking to the public as you gain more and more experience in the competition,” he said in the locker room. “…I have always followed this path, where I dive deep into the game, not only for myself but for the whole team. To say I’m just sitting here, you paint this picture of me walking into the locker room, not talking to my teammates, quietly, not talking to my coaches. Come on, man. It’s just ridiculous.”

Conversations with teammates about Durant’s leadership almost always start with his work ethic. It’s not so much about the time Durant puts in, but about the intensity and focus with which he approaches each session. Booker said the pace of Durant’s workouts is second to none.

“It’s contagious,” point guard Tyus Jones said. “He’s an all-time great. You see him show up, working 110 percent on his craft every day. Even in year 18, he is still looking for ways to improve. He still pushes himself to be better. How can you not do the same?”

“He’s an all-time great. … Even in Year 18, he’s still looking for ways to get better,” teammate Tyus Jones said of Kevin Durant. “How can you not do the same?” (Harry Hoe/Getty Images)

Reserve point guard Monte Morris played five seasons in Denver under star big man Nikola Jokić. He said Jokić would encourage him to make plays, and he said Durant has had a similar message here. Beal said Durant’s encouragement is what helped rookie Ryan Dunn get off to such a solid start.

“A lot of times you’re in your mindset, you’re in ‘kill mode’ and you want everyone else to follow suit,” Beal said. “But that encouragement that he gives and that confidence that he gives Ryan, that goes a long way. That’s one reason why guys stand up and play the way they do, when you have guys like (Durant) backing you up.”

“Everyone has their way of reaching other people,” Josh Okogie said. “Some people are ‘rah-rah’ guys. We don’t have a lot of ‘rah-rah’ guys here. We have guys who are results-oriented. You either do it or you don’t, and Kevin is a good guy who makes sure everyone is held accountable.”

For Durant, it’s a boring topic that’s unlikely to go away. But he is happy about one thing.

“I’m happy that my coaches and teammates support me,” he said.