Kobe Bryant has taken a lot of criticism this season.
The 8-17 Los Angeles Lakers have next to no chance of making the playoffs for the second conscutive season, and many are pointing fingers at Bryant. His refusal to take a pay cut and his somewhat off-putting attitude have led people to believe he’s the reason the Lakers can’t attract stars in free agency.
But Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant isn’t buying that claim.
“Excuse my language, but that’s (bull—-),” Durant recently said, via USA TODAY Sports. “I want to play with a winner every single night, especially somebody who wants to win that bad, who works that hard, who demands a lot, who raises up your level.
“I’d want to play with a guy like that every day. … (His style) may make people uncomfortable, how he acts and just how he approaches the game, but I love that type of stuff. I think (the accusation) is B.S.”
Bryant didn’t help Durant’s point, though, when he blew up on teammates at a recent practice. But for Durant, that’s something he admires about Bryant.
“Just his work ethic, just his demeanor man,” Durant said. “He doesn’t mind being an (a–hole), and he comes to work, man. He’s intense. He demands a lot out of his teammates, and I’ve seen that just playing alongside him in the Olympics (in 2012).
“He demands a lot out of everybody. He makes them better. Everybody out on the court. You’ve got to respect that. As a player, I study guys like that. We might not have the same personality, but I think we approach the game the same way, and I’ve learned a lot from just watching him.”
Thumbnail photo via Mark D. Smith/USA TODAY Sports Images
