Kevin Durant isn’t one to shy away from giving props when it’s due, especially when it comes to greatness. But on the latest episode of the Mind The Game podcast, alongside LeBron James and Steve Nash, the two-time NBA champion and all-time scoring machine dropped what can only be described as a sly, cheeky jab at Michael Jordan, all while giving high praise to LeBron’s unmatched longevity.
While discussing the mental and emotional demands of building a legendary career, Durant reflected on the lessons he learned from watching legends and those who fell short of their potential.
“It’s hard for you to, you know, be ready for what’s ahead. Like, I’ve seen guys, like you guys, you drove me every day. I’d go watch your games, check your box scores. I’m like, ‘All right, if he’s on that level, why can’t I try to be at that same level too?'”
Durant emphasized that greatness isn’t simply about talent or accolades. It’s about the willingness to recommit over and over again, even when your trophy case is full. That’s when he slipped in the line that raised eyebrows:
“Like, all right, yeah, I’m 10, 12 years in. I got four MVPs, four championships. But do I still want to do this s**t? You know what I’m saying? Some people say, ‘I want to go play baseball,’ and then they come back. Other people say, ‘I’m going to go 22 straight.’ You know what I’m saying?”
here's the clip:pic.twitter.com/M1ZXEpwjxc
— M&Worthy (@thatsanicepick) July 9, 2025
It didn’t take a genius to connect the dots. The “some people want to play baseball” remark was a clear reference to Michael Jordan, who famously left the NBA in 1993 during his prime to pursue a brief career in minor league baseball before returning to the Chicago Bulls in 1995.
And the follow-up, “other people go 22 straight”, was a crown-polishing moment for LeBron James, who is now entering his 23rd NBA season and has never taken a break from the game. No retirements. No sabbaticals. Just relentless basketball excellence for over two decades.
Durant’s point wasn’t necessarily to diminish Jordan’s legacy, but to highlight the brutal, often underappreciated mental grind it takes to stay fully committed for 20-plus years, something LeBron has uniquely done.
It was a reflective moment, but also a subtle reshaping of the GOAT conversation. Jordan’s six rings may be untouchable for some, but Durant was clearly placing a different kind of value on career endurance, the kind LeBron embodies and MJ, in Durant’s view, stepped away from when things got hard.
LeBron, for his part, sat back and laughed, not needing to say a word. After all, when Kevin Durant is out here casually drawing lines between you and Michael Jordan, and choosing your side? That says more than enough.
