While Kevin Durant has cemented his position as one of the greatest to ever step on the hardwood, he has been constantly pulled down by the media for lacking leadership. One of the biggest knocks on his career is that he is more of a follower than a leader himself. This narrative was pushed further when Charles Barkley infamously called Durant “a bus rider” rather than a “bus driver” two years ago.

Talking about KD’s stops, he said that the OKC Thunder lost in the NBA Finals when Durant was the leader, and the only reason he won two titles with the Warriors was because Stephen Curry was at the helm. He once again brought those criticisms to the surface this All-Star weekend when he remarked, “Kevin’s a follower. He’s not a leader.”

In a recent Boardroom Cover Story released with Kevin Durant and his business partner Rich Kleinman, Durant addressed these criticisms, stating, “I’m not as charismatic as my peers. I don’t have a personality that’s fit for TV like my peers.” He further elaborated that the media does not see what goes on behind the scenes, how he talks to his teammates and coaching staff, and the relationship he has cultivated with them.

JJ Redick comes to KD’s defense

Amid these criticisms, Stephen A. Smith did not shy away from voicing his thoughts on Durant’s interview. According to SAS, despite having an exceptional basketball IQ, KD does not spend time educating people like he is supposed to. “He is usually whining about other people’s positions as opposed to elaborating and educating the way he is fully capable of doing,” said Smith on ESPN’s First Take.

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However, JJ Redick, unimpressed by Smith’s comments, retorted, “On the leadership front, not everybody leads the same way. Have you been in the locker room with Kevin Durant? Here’s what I know about Kevin Durant, I know that Kevin Durant leads by example. I know the way he approaches his craft.”

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He further dismissed all the criticism surrounding KD’s decision to switch teams, stating that KD gave more than his rookie contract demanded to OKC, and after that, he had the right to pursue what he felt was best. “We are athletes, we have a finite amount of time to enjoy this ride,” added Redick.

The former Mavs guard further argued that KD was the best player on the floor during the Warriors’ championship run, which is why he earned the Finals MVP title in both 2017 and 2018. Even with the Brooklyn Nets, if it had not been for injuries to Kyrie Irving and James Harden, they were just a “toenail away” from winning the 2021 NBA Finals. Whose side are you on? Was JJ Redick right? Or did Stephen A. Smith make more sense? Let us know in the comments!

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