“I don’t respect your opinion!” Kevin Durant SHUTS DOWN Charles Barkley’s ‘negative sh*t’ on leadership
Kevin Durant's leadership is questioned due to his failure to lead any of his teams to victory.
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Kevin Durant thinks Charles Barkley's opinion about his leadership skills is purely for TV, Durant doesn't respect his opinion (image via Open Source/X)
Kevin Durant is in the midst of a stunning recovery run for the Phoenix Suns. The Suns are battling to get to the top few spots of the Western Conference. A new coach, new players, injuries, etc. all led to a brutal first few months of the season. But who gets credit for the resurgence? Or rather who has been the leader of a team full of superstars? Charles Barkley thinks that it is not Kevin Durant. Durant, however, has his own opinion on this matter.
Reporter Duane Rankin caught up at the Suns’ practice facilities today. While discussing other basketball-related things, Rankin asked Durant for his opinion on what Barkley thought about him. Durant said;
It's just part of TV. They needed something to fill a segment up. So they talk about some negative shit, but if you're not in the gym, I don't respect your opinion if you're not in the gym with me.Kevin Durant said
What Durant referred to is that Charles Barkley called Durant a follower and not a leader while commenting during the All-Star game. Durant feels that Barkley is doing it just to get some ratings up on TV. According to Durant, no one is qualified to provide an opinion on his leadership skills unless they have played together.
Charles Barkley’s criticism of Durant’s leadership was borne out of the notion that he has never led a team to a championship on his own. Durant’s title wins with the Golden State Warriors were merely because of the leadership of Stephen Curry. Even though Durant won Finals MVP both times, many believe Curry was the leader.
Barkley and the media have generally discredited Durant’s leadership skills time and again. On all his stops to date, teams led by Durant have not won an NBA championship. This is where the bulk of the notion gathers steam, that Durant cannot lead a team to victory.
Kevin Durant has to lead the Phoenix Suns to a title
Kevin Durant has played for four teams in his illustrious career. Among those teams, he has achieved success only with the Golden State Warriors. But since that team was already a title-winning squad with a regular season record-breaking ability, many discredit Durant’s impact as a leader. That is the ongoing narrative in the media circles.
Even though one cannot take away his skills as an elite basketball player, the lack of championships despite being clubbed with superstar teammates is concerning. Durant has to destroy the notion by leading the Phoenix Suns to at least one championship.
Then, the likes of Charles Barkley might change their opinion. But in any case, it will not matter to Durant as he does not respect the opinion of those who have not shared a basketball court with him.
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Joseph Varghese
(2272 Articles Published)