Sports media personality Skip Bayless is no stranger to feuds with professional athletes, and his back-and-forth with Kevin Durant is one of the most notable as of late.
While Bayless has been a longtime critic of NBA stars, his stance on Durant has shifted drastically over the years.
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Bayless Claps Back at Kevin Durant
Once a vocal supporter of Durant during his Oklahoma City Thunder days, Bayless even defended the forward when he controversially joined the Golden State Warriors in 2016.
However, his recent takes on Durant’s performance have been far from supportive.
Earlier this month, Bayless made a bold claim on The Skip Bayless Show, stating that Durant looks “mentally semi-retired” and is not prioritizing basketball the way he once did.
He pointed to the Phoenix Suns’ struggles this season as proof, suggesting that Durant’s lack of focus is a key factor in the team’s poor record.
Not one to stay silent, Durant took to social media to fire back, reposting the clip with the blunt response: “Fck it, we’re both washed, it was a great run.”*
Now, Bayless has responded.
On a recent episode of his podcast, the veteran sports commentator doubled down on his stance, citing statistics to reinforce his argument.
“They [Suns] now rank 27th of 30 teams in defensive efficiency… That all starts and ends with the man who’s still the best player on that team…Who now ranks 212th in individual defensive win shares,” Bayless stated.
He emphasized that defense is a major reason behind Phoenix’s disappointing 31-37 record and their failure to secure even a play-in tournament spot.
Despite his criticisms, Bayless admitted that Durant still has the physical ability to dominate games.
However, he questioned whether Durant still has the same competitive fire.
“He can still play at a high level, but win at a high level? Is he still as obsessed with winning as he was going into year 10?” he asked.
Bayless went on to suggest that Durant needs to rediscover his “hunger” and “burning desire to win” if he wants to remain a top competitor.
Interestingly, while Bayless presented a detailed argument against Durant’s impact on the Suns, he never directly addressed Durant’s“washed” comment. Instead, he continued critiquing Durant’s on-court performance without defending his own reputation.
As speculation swirls about Durant’s future in Phoenix, former NBA player Lou Williams has weighed in with his own take.
Williams believes Durant should avoid forming another superteam in his pursuit of another championship.
“No more superteams,” Williams stated on Run It Back, suggesting that Durant would be best suited for a team like the San Antonio Spurs, where he could mentor young stars like Victor Wembanyama and De’Aaron Fox.
Whether Durant remains with the Suns or explores new options, his ability to compete at the highest level remains a hot topic, one that Bayless will likely continue debating.
