Monster wrote: ↑Mon May 15, 2023 9:54 pm
Durant certainly went Dark. Is he a bad guy? No but the dude was easily one of the most likable dudes in the league and then something switched. It’s still crazy that Durant, Westbrook and Harden were all drafted to one team.
I agree that Durant has lost a lot of that initial public likability. We didn’t initially see his thin skin and lack of mental toughness. But I wouldn’t say he’s gone dark. He’s always played hard. He’s never gone all ego and by most accounts has been a good teammate. And he’s always been a solid citizen both on and off the court. As fans I think we all need to avoid the impulse to hold these players to standards that no person can possibly meet. These players are under a spotlight of constant media attention and we expect a lot out of them, especially the top players. KAT says some silly things when he tries too hard to say the right thing. Rudy punch Anderson in the chest during a heated exchange. But no one can honestly contend that either one is anything but a class act. Ant will likely say some things that get him in trouble throughout his career. Heck, he already has. But I’m sure he’ll never go Ja Morant or Malik Beasley on us. Will he remain as loyal to this franchise as KAT and KG - two guys who never complained about the constant front office mismanagement, never threatened to leave and never demanded a trade? I’m not sure. That’s the one remaining question I have about him. If the team’s front office can finally show some competence (as it began to show with Rosas), then we’ll never have to worry about that one remaining question.
