Dec 14, 2021; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant (7) reacts during the first quarter against the Toronto Raptors at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant had an NSFW back-and-forth with a fan during Wednesday night’s game against the Dallas Mavericks.
Player-fan interactions have become more common this season than ever before. Perhaps it’s due to the fact that players were used to silence and cardboard figures, rather than fans shouting at them courtside.
Regardless, it has led to some memorable shouting matches in the 2021-22 NBA season, perhaps none more obviously over the top than Durant’s expletive-filled comment towards a Nets supporter on Wednesday night.
While Durant’s reaction feels over the top in the moment, it’s important to consider that we don’t know if these two have a history, or if the fan was belittling Durant all game long. As much as players respect fans’ right to trash talk and boo during the game, they can’t just get away with everything.
Kevin Durant talks back to seemingly supportive Nets fan
What’s most bizarre about this exchange is that the Nets fans appeared to be motivating Durant, or trying to do so, by telling him to take over the game. KD didn’t take kindly to the fan’s advice, obviously. But based on the video it doesn’t look like said Nets fan was trying to anger Durant.
If anything, it would be to the home crowd’s benefit if Durant had taken over that game — a contest the Nets lost by two points, 115-113.
Still without Kyrie Irving in home games due to New York City’s COVID-19 vaccine restrictions, Durant scored 23 points in the defeat.