Kevin Durant and Charles Barkley have rarely seen eye-to-eye. And the current Suns star is once again involved in a back-and-forth with the former Suns star over comments made by Barkley.
During an alternate broadcast of the NBA All-Star Game, Barkley described Durant as lacking leadership abilities, saying that he really wanted Durant to be the leader of the Suns "but he's not doing it." He noted that meant Devin Booker would have to be the team's leader.
"No disrespect to Kevin, Kevin's a follower, he's not a leader. He's proven that on all his stops," Barkley said. "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."
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Durant initially side-stepped Barkley, saying only that he's heard the narratives that he's not a leader and saying because his charisma and personality aren't fit for TV, "you've got to sell what you're doing as well, and I haven't sold it enough." He said he didn't need people to call him a leader, but he also did not want people to not describe him as one.
But on Wednesday, Durant was asked more directly about Barkley's comments calling him a follower, and the former MVP didn't hold back.
“I just feel like a lot of people that's on TV, that don't ever come to the gym; that don’t ever come to games; it’s hard for them to speak on what I do when they not in here,” Durant said. “It’s just part of TV. They needed something to fill a segment up. So they talk about some negative s—, but if you’re not in the gym — I don’t respect your opinion if you’re not in the gym with me.”
Durant, who is in the middle of his first full season with Phoenix, has played in 49 of a possible 56 games and leads the team with 28.1 points per game. He's also averaging 6.6 rebounds, 5.6 assists and a team-leading 37.0 minutes per game.
Despite Durant forming a dynamic pairing with Booker, the Suns have not yet lived up to lofty expectations, currently sitting at seventh in the Western Conference.
Kevin Durant-Charles Barkley beef history
This is hardly the first time Durant and Barkley have taken their discourse public. Barkley criticized Durant on "Inside the NBA" in April 2022, calling Durant a "bus rider" because he wasn't the driving force of the Warriors' two championships.
Durant has previously expressed his respect for Barkley the player, but not Barkley the analyst.
"He's a f—ing legend that I've got nothing but respect for, and when I look up, I'm gonna play with pride knowing that he put blood, sweat and tears into this organization," Durant said. "So, that ain't got nothing to do with how he is as an analyst, though. Like, I don't agree with how he approaches the game as a Hall of Famer.
"His game as an analyst — I don't really f— with your approach. That's my opinion on you, just like your opinion on us."
Barkley has also called Durant a "very sensitive" player while acknowledging his talent. Barkley described Durant as "part of that generation who think he can't be criticized."
"He's never looked in the mirror and said, 'Man, was that a fair criticism?'" Barkley said.
Durant later took to Twitter to say that he'll "never respect the words that come out ya mouth."
