The Phoenix Suns have disappointed in this 2024-25 NBA season, and Skip Bayless reckons that Kevin Durant being “mentally semi-retired” is a big reason why. Bayless made the absurd claim on an episode of The Skip Bayless Show, and Durant had the perfect response to that on X.
“F*** it, we’re both washed, it was a great run, Skip Bayless.”
Well, while Durant isn’t really washed, Bayless sure is. He has gone from being arguably the biggest personality in sports media to somewhat of an afterthought. It’s only when an NBA superstar reacts to a take or when he’s involved in a major scandal that his name even pops up.
In case you’re wondering what exactly Bayless meant to convey with his claim, you’re not alone. In a now-deleted post Durant hilariously asked Bayless’ stans to explain what he was saying.
“Mentally semi-retired. One u skip Stan’s, explain what that means like I’m in 3rd grade please.”
There might not be too many hardcore Bayless supporters left at this point. Here is what exactly the controversial talking head had to say on his show.
“The more I watch him at age 36, the more he looks mentally semi-retired to me,” Bayless said. “He is participating in a documentary about his life and times, and it just feels to me he is winding down his basketball.
“It is reflecting in the Suns’ win-loss record because they started off 8-1 this year,” Bayless continued. “Since then, they have gone 20-31. They’re 28-33 overall as we speak. That’s four games out of the play-in, even though Kevin is putting up tremendous numbers. Kevin Durant-style numbers.”
Durant is averaging 26.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 0.9 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game in 2024-25 while shooting 52.9% from the field and 39.8% from beyond the arc. Those are terrific numbers and would suggest the 15-time All-Star hasn’t checked out mentally, but Bayless thinks otherwise.
“The Phoenix Suns just look like they’re done to me because Kevin looks like he’s on his last mental legs,” Bayless stated. “Not his last physical legs, just mental legs. He’s not really into it the way he used to be into it, when he went to Golden State. And now, to me, as gifted as he still is, Kevin’s just going through the motions.”
Imagine someone just going through the motions and putting up those numbers. There’s no doubt that Durant hasn’t been at his absolute best this season in some ways and deserves some of the blame for the Suns being 11th in the Western Conference with a 30-34 record. Still, to suggest the 36-year-old is semi-retired in his head is just absurd, and it’s not surprising that he felt the need to respond.
This was far from the first time that Durant had taken a shot at Bayless, and it certainly wouldn’t be the last. The 73-year-old is sure to fire back at the NBA star, and we might well get to witness a war of words soon enough.
Durant’s immediate focus, though, would be on the Suns’ next game as they take on the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum on Monday at 8 PM ET.
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