Kevin Durant has little to nothing to prove in the NBA at this point in his career. Heās a two-time champion, a former MVP, and one of the greatest, most talented pure scorers to ever lace them up.
Then again, for some, Durant still has yet to prove that he can lead a team to the top. His two championships came side by side with Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors, which is why some think they have an asterisk next to it.
Unsurprisingly, Skip Bayless seems to be a part of that group. Recently, the often-controversial analyst took a big shot at Durant, stating that the Boston Celtics intimidated him and he crumbled under pressure.
Skip Bayless Says Kevin Durant Isnāt An Alpha Player
āAs you know, the Celtics roughed up Kevin Durant and he crumbled and he folded,ā Bayless said.āHe was overwhelmed, ultimately overmatched. Mr. Burner accounts just got burnt.ā
āHis thin skin gave away, and it showed very little heart and little to no guts when push came to shove literally against that onslaught,ā Bayless added. āThe Celtics exposed Kevin Durant, dare I say soft, as intimidatable, as Kevin Ducanāt.ā
The controversial pundit continued to make an argument against Durantās all-timer status. Per Bayless, no āalpha maleā wouldāve been as intimidated as he was, and certainly not Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, or Magic Johnson:
āGame 4 was actually an indictment of Games 1, 2, and 3 when he was just completely overwhelmed by the onslaught,ā Bayless added.āNo great player, no alpha player would be overwhelmed. The (Michael) Jordans, the (Larry) Birds, the Magics (Johnson). Just give me the damn ball and get out of the way, I donāt care if two come after me. Two come after every great player, almost every possession. You just beat the double-team.ā
Durant was far from the efficient scorer he is in that first-round sweep. He clearly struggled against Bostonās physicality. But from that to put his status as an all-timer in doubt, wellā¦ itās just classic Skip Bayless.
