14 April 2023 , 18:35
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Kevin Durant has been told to “let things slide” with the two-time NBA champion earning a reputation for being overly sensitive towards criticism.
The Phoenix Suns star, 34, has been known for responding to criticism aggressively, and sometimes through the use of burner accounts. Durant likes to be his own “fact checker” and set the record straight but says other NBA stars are more outspoken than he is, and that the sensitive rep is unfair.
In fact, Durant believes that it was his move away from the Warriors which led to the increased criticism, joining the Brooklyn Nets and then later the Suns. “C'mon, you know what happened,” Durant said. “Because I went to the Warriors. 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."
Despite the spotlight being harsh on Durant, who is playing in a highly talented Suns team gunning for a run in the postseason, the 13-time All-Star has no regrets. “Hell, no, I don’t regret anything I do,” a defiant Durant claimed. “I don’t regret my time in the league because I feel like I maximise every day as a player. I feel like I get the most out of myself every time I step on the floor.”
However, Durant has been told to stop stoking fires by giving his critics oxygen and learn to “let things slide” by NFL great Shannon Sharpe, who is a useful and respected voice on all things American sports these days. “Well, I think the thing is that KD responds a little bit more than they do,” Sharpe said on Undisputed.
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“KD is fact-checking everything, KD is his own official fact check. And plus the fact that KD said he has burner phones so that he can respond anonymously.”
Shannon Sharpe has advised Kevin Durant to ignore some criticism and not stoke the flames (Getty)Sharpe continued: “I think KD has to understand, sometimes a fire can only go if it has oxygen, and sometimes he gives it oxygen by responding to it. Sometimes I look and say, ‘Oooo I want to get you so bad but I’m gonna let it slide’. And so sometimes I think that's what KD needs to do. KD needs to let some things slide.”
A fourth-placed regular season finish in the Western Conference has seen the Suns draw the Los Angeles Clippers in the first round of the playoffs.
Phoenix recently defeated the Clippers in six games during the 2021 Western Conference Finals. And as a result of Durant’s arrival in Arizona, the Suns are considered favourites coming out of the West.