BROOKLYN, NY - FEBRUARY 2: Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets and Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets reacts during a game against the LA Clippers on February 2, 2021 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2021 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
Kevin Durant went in on the NBA community not considering him as a “leader” because of him not pressuring teammate Kyrie Irving to get vaccinated.
The Brooklyn Nets just can’t live without drama this season. After the Kevin Durant trade saga plagued the Nets in the off-season, the beginning of the season brought the brand new Kyrie Irving anti-Semitism controversy and a string of poor results that eventually culminated in head coach Steve Nash getting the sack. However, the drama has not died down just yet.
The Nets’ season of drama took another sharp turn when the talismanic Kevin Durant came out with an explosive interview explaining his stance on playing for the Nets. It was following the Nets’ latest defeat to the Sacramento Kings which was a blowout 153-121 defeat and their ninth loss of the season, that KD addressed the criticism and come out with a bombshell.
So when KD sat down with Chris B Haynes for Bleacher Report, he spoke about plenty of things – from how he is expected to do great things despite not having the best of supporting casts, his relationship with former and current teammates and more. Durant also addressed the reservations about him being a “leader” by the NBA community, as he explained his stance on the notion.
Durant put forward the example of Kyrie Irving who caused a lot of controversy by choosing not to get vaccinated last year.
Kyrie Irving chose to not get the jab for the COVID-19 last year, sparking a controversy that also saw KD get the brunt of the media for not being a “leader.” Durant addressed these allegations by explaining his stance on the situation, saying that it is not his job to tell a “grown-a** man” what he can and cannot do.
“A lot of people say I’m not a leader because I didn’t tell Kyrie to get vaccinated. Come on. Or I didn’t condemn Kyrie for leaving the team… I’m not about to tell a grown-a** man what he can and can’t do with his own life.”
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