The war of words between Charles Barkley and Kevin Durant has gotten pretty heated in recent months. It also appears that the two aren’t likely to have a face-to-face chat about it anytime soon.
Barkley sparked the latest round of verbal battles between him and Durant on a recent 60 Minutes appearance.
While Barkley said he thinks Durant is a great player, he also said the two-time NBA Champion is “very sensitive” for his inability to take criticism.
“He’s very sensitive,” said Barkley of Durant. “Great player. He’s part of that generation who thinks he can’t be criticized. He’s never looked in the mirror and says ‘Man, is that a fair criticism?’”
Durant responded to a tweet that included Barkley’s comments.
“This ain’t gettin tiring chuck? I’ll never respect the words that come out ya mouth fam just deal with it,” wrote Durant on Twitter.
This ain’t gettin tiring chuck? I’ll never respect the words that come out ya mouth fam just deal with it https://t.co/ZGGCIs62El
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) March 27, 2023
Since then we haven’t heard much from either of them about the other. However, Durant was asked this week what he might say to Barkley if they were to have a sit-down interview, perhaps during the 2023 NBA Playoffs. The Phoenix Suns star scoffed at the very notion.
“I probably wouldn’t sit down with Charles, to be honest,” Durant said.
Reminded of a conversation the two had a few years back on TNT, Durant said that he and Barkley have had “some good moments, cool moments,” but said “to the core” he respects “everything” Barkley brought to the game of basketball.
“I’ve tried to emulate all the greats in some form or fashion,” Durant continued. “I’ll never take away what he means to the game of basketball. I think we’re all cut from the same cloth. We’ve been through this journey.”
Durant added that he does think the two would find common ground if they did actually speak face-to-face.
"I probably wouldn't sit down with Charles."
A smiling Kevin Durant on Charles Barkley as he addresses their back-and-forth. #Suns pic.twitter.com/xqitH5yAa3
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) April 12, 2023
“I’m sure we can relate on a lot of things in life. We’ve accomplished and experienced the same things in this league. I wouldn’t say we’re not on the same page. We may disagree on some stuff, but you watch TNT, those guys disagree every day, but to the core of it, we’re all ball players and we’ve been through the journey as ball players and I’d say we’re on the same page already.”
About Sean Keeley
Along with writing for Awful Announcing and The Comeback, Sean is the Managing Editor for Comeback Media. Previously, he created the Syracuse blog Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician and wrote 'How To Grow An Orange: The Right Way to Brainwash Your Child Into Rooting for Syracuse.' He has also written non-Syracuse-related things for SB Nation, Curbed, and other outlets. He currently lives in Seattle where he is complaining about bagels. Send tips/comments/complaints to sean@thecomeback.com.