It might be the offseason for the Nets, but Kevin Durant's Twitter fingers are in midseason Finals form.
On any given day, there's a chance that Durant will engage in conversation with Twitter users, from media members to superfans and the valued personalities that make up NBA Twitter. Late Sunday night into Monday morning, Durant shared his thoughts on leadership and playmaking as it pertains to his performance in Brooklyn's first-round loss to the Boston Celtics.
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Kevin Durant vs. NBA Twitter
"It’s a lot of buzz words in basketball that confuse me, like leadership and Playmaking. Can I get a definition please??" Durant said in a quote tweet response to Twitter user @DragonflyJonez, who insinuated that players like LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Stephen Curry and Nikola Jokic can better handle double teams.
Durant continued, expressing supreme confidence in his own ability when it was suggested that he struggles with double teams.
I highly disagree with this take, I don’t believe I struggle with anything basketball related 🤷🏾♂️. https://t.co/rgUk4EZAPs
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) June 13, 2022
As part of the argument, @DragonflyJonez referred to Durant's struggles against the Celtics, to which Durant again responded that he doesn't think he struggles with anything as a basketball player, providing a reminder that he's been on both sides of sweeps and one-sided playoff outcomes.
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It is worth noting that in Boston's four-game sweep of Brooklyn, Durant averaged 26.3 points, 6.3 assists and 5.8 rebounds but shot just 38.6 from the field and 33.3 percent from 3-point range.
With respect to the leadership argument, Durant went as far as to call himself "an employee and one of the guys on the team," adding that "some moments I'm out in front, some moments I'm not. The main message comes from the coach (in my opinion)."
As always, Durant's activity on Twitter invited more debate, with one user speaking on the leadership aspect by saying that it's a mindset and approach, citing a difference in Kobe Bryant's mentality from his scoring title season in 2005-06 to his first championship without Shaquille O'Neal in 2008-09.
With a simple quote tweet, Durant again had a perfect response, later adding that "Kobe was already a championship player man cut it out."
Ima be real, bean would tell u the difference between him in 06 and him 09 was the addition of pau Gasol and having a chance to really chase a chip. https://t.co/7LJqttF41d
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) June 13, 2022
To put a bow on the playmaking argument, Durant responded to the notion that he should make teams pay for doubling him by saying "I think whoever I pass to has to make (you) pay. Not the guy who's being double teamed."
As always, Durant made valid points in his arguments, many of which were met with people questioning his need to engage with fans.
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Whether or not you're on Durant's side in the argument, there's no argument that NBA Twitter is worlds better with such an accessible and engaging superstar.
