Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant took issue with some recent comments made by Charles Barkley about him.
During truTV’s broadcast of the NBA All-Star Game, Barkley went off on Durant, calling him “a follower” and “not a leader.”
“No disrespect to Kevin. Kevin’s a follower. He’s not a leader. He’s proven that on all his stops. Booker’s a hell of a player, also. I think he’s going to have to take the initiative and take this Suns team to the next level. Because, man, Kevin’s a hell of a player; I ain’t never going to say anything bad about him. But I said the same thing with Boston: one of your guys has to step forward, he has to step forward, and for me, for Phoenix to be successful, it has to be Booker,” Barkley said on Sunday.
Well, Durant was told what Barkley said and didn’t seem to thrilled about it. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, he dismissed Barkley’s comments as him just trying to fill air time.
Durant made it clear that he doesn’t respect the opinions of anyone who isn’t “in the gym” with him.
“It’s just part of TV. They needed something to fill a segment up. So they talk about some negative (expletive), but if you’re not in the gym, I don’t respect your opinion if you’re not in the gym with me,” Durant said.
Durant has no shortage of supporters who are rallying behind him and going after Barkley over the insult.
Barkley may not think Durant is a leader, but a lot of other NBA players clearly do.