It’s safe to say that Charles Barkley is unimpressed by Kevin Durant’s continued habit of getting in sniping matches on social media.
After another summer of Durant responding to critical comments from fans and fellow players, Barkley believes the Golden State Warriors forward needs to lighten up and stop trying to be something that he is not.
“Kevin Durant is just a really nice guy trying to be a bad guy,” Barkley told Ben Golliver of the Crossover. “You can’t do that. It doesn’t work. He spends all his time trying to prove to people how tough and bad he is. He’s so worried about what other people say. Kevin Durant is a great player and a great kid. I was one of those guys who criticized him for going to Golden State, but he doesn’t have to respond every time someone says something about it.
“Who’s got thinner skin: Shaquille O’Neal or Kevin Durant? They’ve both got thin skin like Flat Stanley. They need to just chill out.”
Durant has responded to criticism like this, saying he simply enjoys the back-and-forth. Maybe he does. The perception among fans and critics, though, is always going to be that he’s overly sensitive and thin-skinned.
