Stephen A. Smith sets record straight on Kevin Durant ‘unhappy’ claim

Smith agreed with Wilbon’s assertion and then went further in issuing a direct critique of Durant.

“But here’s where Mike Wilbon didn’t go into the details, that all of us covering the NBA are fully aware of. Kevin Durant in Phoenix is a problem. It is a problem. We don’t see it because the stats are there. Him and Booker average 27 points per game and what have you. But they say Kevin Durant is never happy.”

Smith further elaborated his comments.

“They say that he went more than a month without even talking to the head coach. They say that he doesn’t look happy there. And all he wants to do is play. When the game starts and tip off time arrives, but when it comes to ingratiating yourself with your teammates and getting along with everybody and stuff like that. He just lives in his own world. He’s not hated. He’s not despised. He’s not doing anything negative He’s not being somebody that’s two-facing and behind people’s backs doing stuff. No, that’s not who Kevin Durant is.

Smith continued, “But keeping to himself. Why does that matter? It’s similar to what he was doing in golden state before he ultimately departed which is what was driving draymond green crazy Which is why they ultimately got into it on the court In that Clippers game and what have you, because you hear stuff, you hear stuff, you hear about the level of unhappiness, et cetera, et cetera. And you get tired of it because when you don’t want to talk and when you don’t want to answer questions, you don’t want to lead in a very visible way. Well, that forces other people to have to step up on take on a level of culpability that they don’t want to stomach. And so because of all of that stuff, that’s the untold stuff that’s going on in Phoenix. There’s more than that. Make no mistake. It’s not all on Kevin Durant, but that’s a big, big part of it, which is why you’ve got to disband this group.”

It appears that Smith isn’t thrilled with how his comments on First Take about Durant were spun by social media aggregators such as NBA Central. He quoted a video of the segment posted by NBA Central and said, “False! I said his reputation is basketball circles is that he’s NEVER HAPPY. Who in the hell knows what he feels other than him? But that is what is being said. This is the rep he’s developed. Now THAT is what I said,”

Smith’s comments come as many NBA prognosticators have called into question Kevin Durant’s leadership. Smith’s ESPN colleague Kendrick Perkins has gone on record on multiple occasions to criticize Durant for what he believes is him not stepping up as a leader.

“I actually played with the guy, too. I mean, I played with him, so I mean, again, is Kevin Durant going to come in and punch in the clock and be a gym rat? Absolutely. Is he going to be a guy that’s going to voice his opinion in the locker room and hold a guy accountable? He’s not that guy. And I don’t know any championship team that has ever wanted that, hasn’t had a vocal leader in the locker room, right? That’s going to lead, being an extension of the coach, hold guys accountable, and do everything that you need to do,” Perkins said on the March 3rd edition of NBA Countdown.

This chatter is sure to continue throughout the summer as the Suns will certainly look into overhauling the roster to better compete in a talent-rich Western Conference.