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Stephen A Smith has issued a response to NBA superstar Kevin Durant taking shots at him.
A few weeks ago, Smith openly questioned Durant’s leadership skills.
“I don’t question the greatness nor commitment of Kevin Durant,” Smith said. “When you are that great…you should be able to be a better leader than he has shown. He’s been relatively leaderless. He’s been very lacking in inspiration in terms of peeling out from those around him… Durant gon’ ball out, but does he get the others around him to do it?”
Over the weekend, Durant spoke to The Athletic about a variety of NBA-related topics, and the Suns star took shots at Smith over his criticism of NBA players over the years.
“Yeah, Stephen A., I don’t understand how people even listen to Stephen A.,” Durant told The Athletic. “I’ve been in the league for 18 years. I’ve never seen Stephen A. at a practice, or a film session, or a shoot-around.”
“I’ve never seen him anywhere but on TV talking sh*t about players,” Durant added. “He’s a clown to me. He’s always been a clown. You can write that, too.”
On Monday morning, Smith addressed Durant’s comments.
“I will not disrespect him the same way he disrespects me. It’s unfortunate that no matter how old he gets, his sensitivity seems to heighten with it and his maturity it doesn’t. But that’s something he has to deal with, not me… He’s a treasure to the game of basketball. I love seeing him play. And I sincerely wish that he doesn’t get swept again in the playoffs like he has two of the last three years.”
Stephen A. Smith responds to Kevin Durant calling him a “clown”: “I will not disrespect him the same way he disrespects me. It’s unfortunate that no matter how old he gets, his sensitivity seems to heighten with it and his maturity it doesn’t. But that’s something he has to deal… pic.twitter.com/nzujKIJUyU
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) November 4, 2024
Smith said that he had more to say about Durant but will be saving it for his Youtube show.
You already KNOW I will be talking about this on The Stephen A. Smith Show today.
I have A LOT to say to Kevin Durant. https://t.co/faiWaMb9Mx
— Stephen A Smith (@stephenasmith) November 4, 2024