Kevin Durant was in no mood Friday night. Things got feisty in the fourth quarter when Durant had to be separated from Hawks guard Trae Young, who for once, did not appear to be the instigator.
Both were T’d up as the Nets would ultimately take care of business, outslugging the Hawks in a tense battle of Eastern Conference rivals. Durant finished with 31 points and one F-bomb, getting the better of this NSFW exchange with a courtside heckler.
So much for turning the other cheek. After being told to “stop crying,” Durant dropped one of Samuel L. Jackson’s favorite words, quipping, “Shut your ass up, motherf-----.”
That will get the point across. An accomplished Twitter troll known for clapping back at commenters, media and anyone else who dares to lob criticism his way, it’s no surprise Durant would chirp an opposing fan, even if the barb he responded to was relatively mild.
Durant’s thin skin, keeping track of any and all perceived slights, has frankly become exhausting, though clearly that “me against the world” mentality has served him well, even if the chip on his shoulder is largely imagined. Not only does Durant lead the NBA in scoring (28.5 points per game), but his Nets own the Eastern Conference’s best record at 18-8 (.692 winning percentage). That’s quite a feat considering All-Star teammate Kyrie Irving has yet to play a game this season while continuing his crusade against New York’s vaccination requirements.
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