Kevin Durant has become well known over the years for letting critics get under his skin, which is why it is fair to wonder if he could handle the New York media if he signed with the New York Knicks. One reporter who has covered the two-time NBA Finals MVP doesn’t think it will matter, because social media is everywhere.
Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News spoke with three writers who have covered Durant to get their opinion on K.D. potentially playing in New York. The Oklahoman’s Berry Tramel, who covered Durant extensively when he was with the Thunder, doesn’t think Durant gets as aggravated with the “traditional media” as he does with Twitter, Instagram and the like.
“He looks like to me that he’s just a social media addict,” Tramel said. “And anything I’ve ever seen him get worked up about — whether he was here or since he’s been in Oakland — has all just been somebody’s nonsense, or maybe it’s not even nonsense, it’s always just something on social media.”
Monte Poole, a Warriors reporter for NBC Sports, shared similar thoughts.
“I think in Kevin’s case, it’s more about the social media stuff. He wants to be able to control his narrative, and he hasn’t quite fully learned that you can’t. You can do the best you can. But there’s always going to be stuff you can’t control,” Poole said.
That isn’t exactly an industry secret. Durant has engaged with trolls on social media numerous times in the past, and his latest interaction seemed to come out of nowhere. Durant also recently shot back at the idea that the Warriors are better off without him, which is a narrative that has been popular on social media.
Basically, Durant is probably going to find ways to be offended no matter which team he signs with. As long as he keeps logging onto Twitter, it won’t really matter where he plays.
