“The game has saved my life. It brought me and my family out of a lot of ….” Kevin Durant has had a tumultuous journey in life, facing a fair share of ups and downs both on and off the court, all this while, he has found the game to be his strength. Let it be his emotional turmoil, his team choices, social media battles, or his never-ending debates about his legacy, Durant, has been in the spotlight. And at times, you need someone by your side, right? There’s a rainbow at the end of the storm. An unexpected voice has echoed in to remind the world just how special the legend is. It is none other than his Oklahoma City Thunder teammate, Andre Robertson.
Kevin Durant has been in emotional turmoil for quite a while, and the All-Star got emotional while talking about his endeavors in the basketball world. The four-time Olympic gold medalist divulged during the making of the Netflix documentary Court of Gold saying, “I come from neighborhoods where people don’t even talk to each other. It’s so much hate in the world…When people get to start laughing and joking for a game of ball, it’s cool to me. So like it gets me emotional d—…” reflecting upon a poignant anecdote from his life.
Being the only player in basketball history to own MVPs in the Olympics, FIBA World Cup, and the NBA, he has already crafted a legacy many players dream of. During a conversation with Dwight Howard, which was posted on Instagram, Andre Robertson did not mince his words when asked who was the most talented player he ever played with. Without wasting a second, he replied, “It’s got to be KD.” Further, when asked what makes him special besides being a seven-footer Robertson said, “Just the way you approach the game really,” “I never seen anybody work as hard as him, that’s why he is the most skilled.” Then when he was asked about another one of his teammates, Paul George, Robertson said, “Paul George is up there, but he’s no seven-footer.”
By singling out, Robertson has insinuated that he places Durant a notch above PG-13, a move that subtly downplays Paul George’s impact during their time as teammates. One thing is for certain, George had one of his best seasons with the Thunder, which includes an MVP-level season in 2018-19. So, what was Andre Robertson trying to say?
Paul George brought into the conversation as Durant picked praises
Was Andre Robertson taking a shot at Paul George or just playing for KD? It may not be intentional, but the implication can hardly be ignored. Paul George has long been touted as an elite two-way player. But his impact and legacy have often been a topic of heated debates when compared to the game’s true superstars. This can be attributed to his playoff struggles and a lack of championship rings, which dull the shine of his impressive numbers.
George has not crossed the line between a regular star and the coveted status as a rare superstar. It could be due to his playoff disappointments, the notable incident in the 2018 series where he was outdone by Donovan Mitchell, a rookie, or the 2019 meltdown against Damian Lillard.
To collect what has happened, Andre Robertson’s statement could have just been an honest reflection of what he has experienced, but every comment made by stars carries weight. Robertson’s words lend support to a distressed Kevin Durant but his words add fuel to the fire that is the debate about KD’s place in history and where Paul George lurks in the conversation.
The post Amid Emotional Turmoil, Kevin Durant Finds Unexpected Ally in Ex-Teammate Who Discredits Paul George’s Impact appeared first on EssentiallySports.
