If the NBA gave a seasonal award for the player with the most social media game, it's not a stretch to say Kevin Durant would run away with the honor.
The Suns star frequents X (formerly Twitter) where he isn't afraid to speak his mind. He's also one of the most active professional athletes across all major American sports leagues on the platform.
It's no surprise, then, that when ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith criticized Durant's leadership on the network's morning show "First Take" less than two weeks ago, Durant responded rapidly on the app with his disagreement. This led to a series of exchanges between the two in the media, continuing into this week.
Here's everything to know about what Durant said to Smith, including how the analyst attacked the Suns star's "sensitivity" and "maturity" in his response to a clown comment.
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The saga began on Oct. 24, when Smith took to his show to answer a question about how much belief he has in Durant's ability to lead the Suns to an NBA title.
"Not much," Smith responded. "I don't question the greatness nor the commitment of Kevin Durant... We're not going to look at Kevin Durant and just measure him in terms of just his talent. It's what ability you have to peel out of others. And his resume, much to the chagrin of his loved ones and various others in his inner circle -- they've gotten at me over the years not in a very flattering fashion with the things I've had to say and I accept it. That's what comes with the territory. I got to call it like I see it.
"I think Kevin Durant is one of the greatest talents this game has ever seen. What he's done for the game of basketball, the ambassador that he is for the game of basketball has to be applauded, but the flip side of all of that is that he's been relatively leaderless.
"He's gonna show up, and he's gonna ball out," Smith continued. "But does he get the others around him to do it? Not only does he not do it, he doesn't feel the level of responsibility I think he should feel in getting it out. Like, 'I did my job. I can't help it if somebody else isn't doing their job.' Well, to some degree you can. When you're that great and you warrant that much respect and that much deference and reverence, you should be able to be a better leader than he has shown."
Within two hours of the clip being posted to the "First Take" X page, Durant responded with the following message:
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On Nov. 3, just under two weeks after the X incident, an article by The Athletic's Doug Haller focused on the Durant-Smith saga featured more comments by the future Hall of Famer targeted at the analyst.
"Yeah, Stephen A., I don't understand how people even listen to Stephen A.," he said. "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 s -- about players. ... He's a clown to me. He's always been a clown. You can write that, too."
The next morning, Smith took to the "First Take" desk once again, calling out Durant's "pettiness" and "childishness" in his interview. He also detailed his lengthy career as an on-the-ground reporter, debunking Durant's claims that Smith hasn't been present in NBA media circles.
"If you're expecting me to reciprocate that kind of pettiness and childishness, it's not going to happen," Smith began.
"I've been an NBA reporter and I was a columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer as well" Smith continued. "Kevin Durant has seen me in the locker room when he was at Oklahoma City. He has seen me in the locker room when he was at Golden State. He has certainly seen me at games throughout his career.
"Unfortunately for him, I don't have to be at shootaround. And I don't have to be in the postgame locker room. I happen to have a hit show that has been No. 1 for 12 years. I have other things to do with my time. I go to games all the time. I'm not a beat writer anymore, so let's get that out of the way.
"Respectfully, Kevin Durant is going to have to answer this question: Who's allowed to talk about him?"
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Smith went on, pointing out the star has come at Charles Barkley and Shannon Sharpe among other players and even fans using burner accounts for criticism before.
"I will not disrespect him the way he disrespects me. It's unfortunate that no matter how old he gets, his sensitivity seems to heighten with it and his maturity doesn't," Smith said. "But that's something he has to live with, not me. I respect him. 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."
Durant has yet to respond to the analyst's latest quip, but knowing his propensity to take to the internet with his opinions, it's likely the Phoenix forward will make a statement of sorts.