Los Angeles — Kevin Durant has heard speculations that he is dissatisfied in Phoenix. And they are disturbing to him.
Durant believes that other people’s statements have been misrepresented as his own, such as an ESPN report on Christmas Day that indicated that many within the Phoenix Suns organization were frustrated with Bradley Beal’s absences and “an underwhelming supporting cast.”
Durant spoke exclusively with FOX Sports following the Suns’ loss to the LA Clippers on Monday night at Crypto.com Arena, attempting to clear the air on his feelings about his club.
“I don’t want to get traded,” Durant stated. “I’m not frustrated because Brad is wounded. I was not annoyed by the team’s role players.
words keep being put in his mouth.
“Me talking about any frustration is going to turn into people thinking that I’m checked out or I’m trying to ask for a trade,” Durant said. “So, me saying that I’m frustrated, I don’t even want to talk like that. Like, I’m happy about everything.”
Durant believes this is a perpetual issue.
He feels as though his name is always associated with drama and rumors, even when he hasn’t done or said anything to prompt it. In other words, his accomplishments are overshadowed by his criticism.
“Nobody wants to call me great,” said Durant, who, at age 35, is currently the fifth-leading scorer in the league and second in 3-point percentage. “They want to call me all these other words: Insecure, miserable, bad teammate. That’s what’s going to get [people] paid for the articles they write. They can’t write, ‘KD is such a student of the game’ or ‘He’s a great teammate’ or ‘He loves basketball.’ Nobody wants to hear that s— when it comes to me.”
Durant, a two-time champion, two-time Finals MVP, one-time league MVP and 13-time All-Star, knows he can’t control what people say about him.
What he finds unbearable is when he’s misunderstood.
He doesn’t want false tales being spun about him. Other people’s words assigned to him. Or deep meanings attributed to his every movement.
“There’s a lot of people trying to read my body language instead of talking to me and asking me, ‘Hey, what do you think?'” Durant said. “…At least come and talk to me and ask, ‘What were you thinking right there?’ Maybe I was pissed off at myself.”
Given all that Durant has contributed to the game, he believes he’s owed that.
“Why are you continuously trying to create drama around my name for no reason?” Durant said in response to the media reports. “Why are you trying to make my life miserable? That’s the question. There’s no need. Let’s just talk about what I see on the basketball court because the fan base wants to know how I’m thinking as a basketball player.”
So, Durant is just going to focus on the work. The white noise around him? It’s part of the gig. But he wants to make sure it’s not erroneously construed as coming from his mouth.
After pouring out his thoughts, Durant took a deep breath.
“Thanks for listening to my rant,” he said, hoping in a wider sense that his voice will be heard.
