“I’m not as charismatic as my peers. I don’t have a personality fit for TV… You gotta sell what you’re doing… I don’t feel like I need to.” Kevin Durant on why the media may think he’s not a leader 🗣️ (via @boardroom)
"I haven't sold it enough": Kevin Durant talks about his charisma and leadership
NBAThursday, 22 February 2024 at 04:00
Just last week, Charles Barkley once again railed against Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant, saying that he was a "follower, not a leader." That wasn't the first time that the NBA legend and commentator said disparaging things against the two-time champion.
True to form, Durant responded to Barkley's criticism. Speaking with Rich Kleiman in an interview on Bleacher Report and Boardroom, he opened up about his personality and why some people question his leadership skills.
"I'm not as charismatic as my peers. I don't have a personality that's like, fit for TV. And a lot of those stories of what we talk about don't get spoken about in the media," Durant said. "You got to sell what you're doing as well and I haven't sold it enough. I don't feel like I need to."
For many people, NBA leaders have to look and act a certain way, much like LeBron James, Jimmy Butler, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and others. Durant understands that he's not like those people but he also feels that some of the ways that he does help his team aren't covered by the press.
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Durant has now faced criticism during all four of his NBA stops. He has played for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, Brooklyn Nets, and finally the Suns. At each location, Durant has heard cries from some fans and commentators who feel that he doesn't do enough to lead his team.
At the end of the day, Durant made it clear that he doesn't really care what people call him and he knows that he does a lot for his team behind the scenes in ways that no one sees.
"I don't feel like I want people to call me a leader, but I also don't want people to say I'm not one either because they don't see what goes on behind the scenes of what I talk about or my intentions or relationships that I've built with my teammates and my support staff," Durant said.
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