NBA circles are still buzzing about the Kevin Durant-Dwight Howard feud.
During Sunday night's game between Oklahoma City and Houston -- a game that witnessed multiple hard fouls and high tensions -- the injured Thunder forward repeatedly called Howard a "p***y" from the bench.
Durant's comments were noteworthy for multiple reasons. The first is the fact that such language and combativeness is rare for the mild-mannered, soft-spoken MVP. Secondly, Durant had become the second NBA star to hurl insults at Howard on the court this season; Kobe Bryant also exchanged words with the Rockets center on opening night.
Kevin Durant, Dwight Howard Exchange Words During Game
One incident can be isolated, but two begins to mark a trend. During a recent episode of "Fox Sports Live," former player and Hall of Famer Gary Payton was asked if these incidents indicate that Dwight Howard is really disliked or misunderstood. Payton did not mince words.
"I think he's disliked by a lot of players now," Payton said. "They're starting to dislike him a lot. Because what Dwight does is, you know, you see all the smiles and all the antics. That is getting on people's nerves. That's getting on players' nerves...To get this guy right here, Kevin Durant, to do what he did, you know it's starting to become a problem with basketball players. 'Cause Kevin Durant doesn't really, really talk to anybody.
"He goes at people that are fake with stuff," Payton added. "Only fake guys. Fake guys, to me, are when they're always woofing, woofing, woofing, and don't really, really do nothing. It's a woof player. If you see 'em in the streets, they ain't going to do nothing. I'm going to tell you right like that."
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