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Kevin Durant spoke candidly about the issues in having another superstar play with LeBron James.

Durant himself will be a free agent next offseason and has been linked to the Los Angeles Lakers. Durant has more strongly been linked to the New York Knicks over the past few months than the Lakers.

"It depends on what kind of player you are," Durant said. "If you're Kyle Korver, then it makes sense. Because Kyle Korver in Atlanta was the bulk of the offense, and he's not a No. 1 option at all, not even close. So his talents benefit more from a guy who can pass and penetrate and get him open.

"If you're a younger player like a Kawhi (Leonard), trying to pair him with LeBron James doesn't really make sense. Kawhi enjoys having the ball in his hands, controlling the offense, dictating the tempo with his post-ups; it's how he plays the game. A lot of young players are developing that skill. They don't need another guy."

Durant also noted how the media attention James commands is also an issue.

"So much hype comes from being around LeBron from other people," Durant said. "He has so many fanboys in the media. Even the beat writers just fawn over him. I'm like, we're playing basketball here, and it's not even about basketball at certain points. So I get why anyone wouldn't want to be in that environment because it's toxic. Especially when the attention is bull attention, fluff. It's not LeBron's fault at all; it's just the fact you have so many groupies in the media that love to hang on every word. Just get out of the way and let us play basketball."

Via Ric Bucher/Bleacher Report

KD to the Clippers confirmed.

Meanwhile KD is busy making his own fanboys out of nothing.

This guy is super salty. He thought beating LeBron in the Finsls was going to change the narratives, but it hasn't.

KD to join Kawhi in New York...or if they're smart, in Toronto lol

Reverse psychology. Lebron probably told him to say this publicly, so Kawhi goes elsewhere and Lakers give Durant the contract.

He's so out of touch from reality. He's creating distraction for keep talking about his free agency yet keeps saying I just want to play basketball. No wonder why draymond is so frustrated with him. I actually sympathize with draymond now

Snake talks too much

I didn't have any negative feelings about KD joining 73 wins Warriors. But don't ever talk **** about Kyle Korver! Like he is not No.1 option? He could be any day if he wanted to. He is very probably the best player who ever played the game of basketball. He is so unselfish that he lets shoot the ball other guys who shouldn't take any shots if Kyle is on the floor. Hail Korver. Yeah, **** KD!

Nothing to see here. Has anyone ever left their team to play with Durant?

This explains everything. Many people have been saying the same thing. Only LeBron’s fanboys, Cavs fans, and now Lakers fans seem to think other stars want to play with LeBron.

t-rexCity wrote:He's so out of touch from reality. He's creating distraction for keep talking about his free agency yet keeps saying I just want to play basketball. No wonder why draymond is so frustrated with him. I actually sympathize with draymond now

Draymond was literally my least favorite player in the NBA until like a month or two ago, right before him and KD's little bout.


Now I agree.... I feel for Draymond and respect the man a bit more after hearing he called Durant a B*tch over and over lol

Pennebaker wrote:Meanwhile KD is busy making his own fanboys out of nothing.

This guy is super salty. He thought beating LeBron in the Finsls was going to change the narratives, but it hasn't.

Yep. Sure sounds like this to me as well. Bro, you joined a 73 win team that just beat you when you were up 3-1. You will never be in the same conversation as any of the greats now. Don't hate that everyone is acknowledging this. But hey... you got some rings though.

ImaCLEFanNotLBJ wrote:Yep. Sure sounds like this to me as well. Bro, you joined a 73 win team that just beat you when you were up 3-1. You will never be in the same conversation as any of the greats now. Don't hate that everyone is acknowledging this. But hey... you got some rings though.

People said the same of LeBron when he joined Miami. If LeBron doesn't get that one ring with Cleveland then how would he be any different? If Durant does get one in <insert other team here> then how is he any different?

Or do you also think LeBron doesn't belong with the all-time greats?

The irony of his comments are that:
1: Superstars have historically signed up and desired to play with him (Wade, Bosh, Irving, Love, etc... )

2: Durant is a superstar, and he left his team to go join a bunch of star players that like having the ball too, so clearly he must think he feels differently than every other superstar that won't go play with LeBron.

3: LeBron is an extremely willing passer/deferential player for a superstar.

I do get what he's saying, there are people that may not want to deal with the LeBron hoopla, especially in LA, but the discussion of on court fit seems pretty silly given past history and his own decision. Without seeing the whole interview rather than quotes, it's hard to get a feel for the full context of the questions and way he answered though.

dougthonus wrote:The irony of his comments are that:
1: Superstars have historically signed up and desired to play with him (Wade, Bosh, Irving, Love, etc... )

2: Durant is a superstar, and he left his team to go join a bunch of star players that like having the ball too, so clearly he must think he feels differently than every other superstar that won't go play with LeBron.

3: LeBron is an extremely willing passer/deferential player for a superstar.

I do get what he's saying, there are people that may not want to deal with the LeBron hoopla, especially in LA, but the discussion of on court fit seems pretty silly given past history and his own decision. Without seeing the whole interview rather than quotes, it's hard to get a feel for the full context of the questions and way he answered though.

Not sure if I would call LeBron an extremely deferential player, even for a superstar.

dougthonus wrote:The irony of his comments are that:
1: Superstars have historically signed up and desired to play with him (Wade, Bosh, Irving, Love, etc... )

2: Durant is a superstar, and he left his team to go join a bunch of star players that like having the ball too, so clearly he must think he feels differently than every other superstar that won't go play with LeBron.

With respect to (1): Irving and Love really didn't have any say in being paired with LeBron, so Wade and Bosh are the only superstars that have intentionally signed on to play with LBJ. Even then (aside from 2 rings) it didn't exactly create a clear situation where other superstars want the opportunity to play with him because they saw how Wade and Bosh sacrificed to support LeBron - things more or less worked out, but it wasn't what they envisioned when they signed on for The Decision, and I can see how that could temper the enthusiasm of other players considering joining the Lakers.

With respect to (2): Durant isn't particularly ball-dominant, and is used to playing beside Westbrook who may have been (aside from this season) the most ball-dominant player in the league. If anything, joining the Warriors was a chance to play with less-ball-dominant players (and a team heralded for their passing and selflessness).

Say what you want about KD but he's absolutely right on this one.

_MidNight_ wrote:Say what you want about KD but he's absolutely right on this one.

Plus 1. He must be reading the posts.

anatomicbomb wrote:

dougthonus wrote:The irony of his comments are that:
1: Superstars have historically signed up and desired to play with him (Wade, Bosh, Irving, Love, etc... )

2: Durant is a superstar, and he left his team to go join a bunch of star players that like having the ball too, so clearly he must think he feels differently than every other superstar that won't go play with LeBron.

With respect to (1): Irving and Love really didn't have any say in being paired with LeBron, so Wade and Bosh are the only superstars that have intentionally signed on to play with LBJ. Even then (aside from 2 rings) it didn't exactly create a clear situation where other superstars want the opportunity to play with him because they saw how Wade and Bosh sacrificed to support LeBron - things more or less worked out, but it wasn't what they envisioned when they signed on for The Decision, and I can see how that could temper the enthusiasm of other players considering joining the Lakers.

With respect to (2): Durant isn't particularly ball-dominant, and is used to playing beside Westbrook who may have been (aside from this season) the most ball-dominant player in the league. If anything, joining the Warriors was a chance to play with less-ball-dominant players (and a team heralded for their passing and selflessness).

I guess you forgot to think about the time Kevin love was a free agent. He could have gone anywhere. He chose to resign with CLE. That’s a decision