NBA superstar Kevin Durant has never been shy about speaking his truth and that’s exactly what he did in a recent episode of the ‘Boardroom’ podcast. Speaking in a panel with Anthony Edwards and Jalen Rose, Durant went viral for his latest moment of honesty, when he admitted his hatred of the New York Knicks.
“I had a Patrick Ewing jersey,” said Durant. “And that’s crazy because I ended up growing up hating the Knicks; playing for Brooklyn end up hating the Knicks.“
“I had a Patrick Ewing jersey. And that’s crazy because I ended up growing up hating the Knicks; playing for Brooklyn end up hating the Knicks“
— Kevin Durant pic.twitter.com/qohZlE74po
— New York Basketball (@NBA_NewYork) August 24, 2024
As a 2x champion, former MVP, and 14x All-Star, Kevin Durant is one of the defining players of the modern NBA. For over a decade, he’s been right under LeBron James as an elite superstar and has the numbers to show for it with averages of 27.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game on 50.1% shooting.
To most players, the New York Knicks would be a dream destination. Besides representing the most iconic city in the country, the franchise is world-renowned with a fanbase that totals in the millions. The Knicks also play in the world’s most famous arena: Madison Square Garden.
By his own admission, Kevin Durant, 35, used to be a Knicks fan back in the day and he even rocked a Patrick Ewing jersey when he was doing his thing in the 80s and 90s. Eventually, however, Durant developed a deep resentment for the Knicks. Whether due to the overwhelming media culture of their history of mist-steps, Kevin Durant has no love for the Orange and Blue and at no time was that more evident than during his stint with the Nets.
After winning two championships with the Warriors in 2017 and 2018, Durant had an opportunity to become the King of New York City as a free agent in 2019. The Knicks had the means and the motive to pursue Durant and his father reportedly “begged” him to join them instead of the Nets. But even after they made a pitch to have him join that summer, with a chance to turn the Knicks into a powerhouse in the East, he signed with their biggest rivals instead.
Over three active seasons with the Nets, Durant led them to prosperity as he dominated the court. He was overshadowing the Knicks in their own city and talking trash to the fans at every turn.
Eventually, due to a falling out with management, Durant forced his way out of Brooklyn and he’s been with the Phoenix Suns ever since. Without Durant or Kyrie, the Nets fell into obscurity in the East while the Knicks (with Mikal Bridges, Jalen Brunson, and Julius Randle) have become one of the favorites to make the Finals.
By most accounts, Durant made a mistake that summer when he chose to spurn the New York Knicks but he doesn’t have any regrets over how it went down. As a legend of the game and a role model for millions of young athletes, Kevin Durant is content with how his career has panned out and his beef with the Knicks stands to his day.
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