Kevin Durant may be flying high in Paris, but he's still attuned to the happenings on the basketball portion of social media, a mystifying place where common sense dies and hyperbole reigns supreme.
The Suns star is an avid enthusiast on the medium, particularly on X, the website formerly known as Twitter. He added to his glittering clap-back legacy on Friday morning, delivering an elegy of sorts towards basketball fans, particularly those of the Denver Nuggets' variety.
Durant is an American hoops icon, not just for his performances at the club level, but the way he elevates his displays for his country, as well. He's USA Basketball's all-time leading scorer and rebounder, and he played a pivotal role in lifting Steve Kerr's squad to yet another gold medal game on Thursday night, recording nine points — including a timely stepback jumper — in USA's 95-91 win over Serbia.
MORE: USA vs. France prediction in gold medal game for 2024 Olympics
When the dust settled on Thursday's epic, many were in awe of the Serbians' effort. One Twitter user, a notable Denver-based writer and analyst named SwipaCam, offered his condolences to Jokic and his Serbian teammates.
Durant sprang into action, offering a simple but stern rebuttal to SwipaCam at 11:09 p.m. ET (5:09 a.m. Paris time).
"Where u from?" Durant penned, seemingly taking offense to SwipaCam's failure to shower the same credit to his American counterparts.
Where u from??
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) August 9, 2024
That set off a torrent of tweets from Nuggets fans and Durant alike. Another user served up personal insults towards Durant, calling him a "petty, insecure little ignorant b—." Durant responded coolly, noting that "Will's upset."
Warning: The following tweets contain NSFW language.
Will’s upset… https://t.co/lu74WhbPUD
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) August 9, 2024
Nuggets supporters came in droves to pile on to the 35-year-old wing.
Some claimed Durant — a former MVP — was upset that Jokic had displaced him and his American teammates as the best player in the world. Durant disagreed, acknowledging that Jokic is widely cherished and respected around league circles. However, Joker's colleagues "don't worship him" like Nuggets fans do.
To all you nuggets fans, nobody gives a fuck who yall lames believe is the best player in the league, players got major respect for Jok, we don’t worship him like yall do but most are in awe of his brilliance. Trolling you cornballs for rooting against us is apart of the game.… https://t.co/JVwxSi0eJD
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) August 9, 2024
MORE: Why Bogdan Bogdanovic, Serbia have beef with Carmelo Anthony
Durant used his latest tiff with Denver supporters as a way to roundly criticize fan culture as a whole, arguing that the league's fanbase believes "they are the reason for the advancement of the sport," not the players themselves.
"A lot disrespect of the work being put in by these incredible athletes," Durant wrote, "Mostly by people who don't know what it takes to be good at anything besides talking. ...Go do something and get out the way."
Lets talk about the fan culture that’s been created recently. A lot of huge egos who believe they are the reason for the advancement of a sport. ALOT of idol worship, a lot of hate and division based off wins and losses, a lot of disrespect of the work being put in by these… https://t.co/UFRak9kSEG
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) August 9, 2024
If there's one thing Durant will do, it's clap back. That desire to rebut fans' criticism — whether warranted or not — seems to have transcended time zones, international waters and different continents, too.
Durant's Suns will take on Jokic's Nuggets on Christmas Day. Given the clash of basketball ideologies between Durant and Denver's fanbase, expect it to be a notable matchup.
