Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant is not Mr. Nice Guy with the media anymore. Toward the end of last season, Durant told reporters “Y’all are not my friends.” He meant it. Following a testy exchange via media with First Take host Stephen a. Smith, Durant once again criticized reporters for their coverage of him.
When reporters asked Thunder coach Billy Donovan about Durant’s heavy minutes early in the season, Durant took the opportunity to complain about how his injury-riddled 2014-15 season is being referred to.
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“I’m really tired of y’all talking to me like I’m a 19-year vet, man,” Durant said. “I was out a year — not even a whole year. I’m all right. I can play those minutes. It’s not like I’m struggling the next day. “I want to play every minute, but I can’t do that. I feel great to play as much as coach wants me to play. I’m not 39 years old.”
Durant missed significant time last season with a Jones fracture in his foot that limited him to 27 games. His injuries, as well as multiple other injuries to different players throughout the season, led to Oklahoma City missing the playoffs and likely cost then-coach Scott Brooks his job. Brooks was beloved among his players, and Durant’s initial lash-out was in his coach’s defense.
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The particular game in question regarding Durant’s minutes was a double-overtime game vs. the Magic in which Durant logged 53 minutes. He also scored 43 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Donovan said that Durant, 27, wants to play the minutes and has no issue with staying on the court.
“There’s no ‘OK, after tonight we’re gonna rest him,'” Donovan said Sunday. “Or a ‘Hey, listen, we’re gonna get through this midweek and then rest him on the back end.’ Those guys are gonna play, and they want to play. They are competitors.”
Durant is scheduled to play against the Rockets tonight, in Oklahoma City’s first back-to-back of the year.
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