Kevin Durant lights up Skip Bayless after Twitter praise: 'I really don't like u'

Zac Al-Khateeb

Kevin Durant lights up Skip Bayless after Twitter praise: 'I really don't like u' image

When Skip Bayless speaks, people listen. Not because he boasts insight or authority, but because his opinions are often enough to evoke a visceral reaction.

As Kevin Durant demonstrated on Tuesday, that can even be the case when the Fox Sports 1 commentator is heaping praise on players. The "Undisputed" host was effusive in his admiration for Durant on Twitter after the latter led an undermanned Nets team to a 131-129 overtime win over the Nets.

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Brooklyn, down seven players due to COVID-19, relied heavily on Durant's 34 points, 13 rebounds and 11 assists in the victory. But Bayless used his praise for Durant as an opportunity to take a shot at the Lakers' LeBron James. Los Angeles, amid a two-game win streak, did not play on Tuesday.

It's uncertain if Bayless' shot at James is what prompted a response from the Nets superstar, but the latter certainly didn't take kindly to the tweet:

MORE: Twitter roasts Skip Bayless for take on LeBron James' 3-point shot in Lakers' win over Warriors

Bayless wasn't dissuaded by Durant's reaction, doubling down with yet more praise in a tweet an hour later:

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This isn't the first time Durant and Bayless have had run-ins, with the former reportedly asking a reporter in 2016 to ask him a question about the then-ESPN host just so he could tee off on him in a postgame news conference.

Needless to say: Durant's reaction to Bayless' praise on Tuesday didnt come from nowhere.

Zac Al-Khateeb

Zac Al-Khateeb Photo

Zac Al-Khateeb has been part of The Sporting News team since 2015 after earning his Bachelor's (2013) and Master's (2014) degrees in journalism at the University of Alabama. Prior to joining TSN, he covered high school sports and general news in Alabama. A college sports specialist, Zac has been a voter for the Biletnikoff Award and Heisman Trophy since 2020.