Charles Barkley Blasts Kevin Durant During All-Star Game: “He’s A Follower, Not A Leader”

Charles Barkley took shots at Kevin Durant while commentating on the 2024 NBA All-Star Game.

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Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports

Kevin Durant is a legend of the game and made the 14th All-Star game of his career this year, tied for seventh-most in NBA history. While he’s still competing alongside LeBron James and Stephen Curry, Durant is regarded as one of the greatest of this era. Despite that, Durant was criticized by Charles Barkley on the TNT All-Star Game broadcast, who called him a follower and not a leader.

“Booker has to be your mental leader and your vocal leader. No disrespect to Kevin Durant, he’s a follower, he’s not a leader. He’s proven that in all his spots. Booker is a hell of a player, he’s going to have to take the initiative to take this Sun’s team to another level. Kevin’s a hell of a player, I don’t wanna say anything bad about him. I said the same thing about Boston, one of you guys has to step forward. For Phoenix to be successful, I think it has to be Booker.”

This was uncalled for by Barkley. Even though he’s repeatedly saying he isn’t attacking Durant and respects his game, saying that about a player with Durant’s stature is a little unseemly. Doing it on the live broadcast of a nationally televised All-Star game is even weirder, as there’s no way for anyone to not consider that a shot at Durant.

The praise on Devin Booker was fair, as Booker could end up being the No. 1 on this team, but to dismiss Durant as a leader with everything he’s achieved in the NBA was unfair by Charles. 

KD is averaging 28.2 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 5.7 assists this season, being the most available star out of the Suns’ big three while adjusting his game to even play center for extended minutes in Phoenix.


Can Kevin Durant Lead The Suns?

Similar to his stop in Golden State, Durant joined the Suns with an established guard people expect to be the leader of the team. Booker had led the Suns to a Finals run in 2021, but he did meltdown in 2022 against Luka Doncic and the Mavericks. Booker needed a star like KD next to him just as much as KD needed a situation like Phoenix after his stint with Brooklyn.

Barkley’s criticism isn’t incorrect, as KD has proven at previous stops that he tends to leave when things get hairy. But he’s done everything the right way since joining the Suns last year and has helped the team be looked at as a contender around the NBA. His experience and complementary play style mean he might be the biggest difference-maker when it comes to winning or losing a playoff series.

Durant wants to be appreciated as one of the GOATs of basketball, but people like Barkley who look at KD this way will always question his status among the greats. The only way for KD to shut them up is by being the leader and bringing Phoenix its first-ever NBA Championship, something Barkley couldn’t do.

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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