This week the Oklahoma City Thunder faced off against the Los Angeles Lakers. Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant took some time in the locker room before the game to spend with their former Olympic teammate Kobe Bryant before he finally hangs them up for good.
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While its no question that Kevin Durant appreciates Kobe Bryant for the competitive moments of basketball and their friendship, he explained to The Oklahoman what Kobe did during in his 20 years in the NBA that “pissed him off a lot”.
“It’s not one instance. It’s just the intensity he played with, just how he played. It was always just controlled recklessness, I guess I’d say. Just the fact that he hit big shots, the fact that he made tough shots. He made things that look tough seem easy. That was frustrating, that’s always frustrating for a player. It wasn't like I don’t like Kobe as a person. It was more so the way he played made it seem like for him it was pretty easy. He’s definitely a role model for me and all my teammates in how he approached the game; it was another level.”
Durant's frustration came as a competitor and former scoring champion, same as Bryant. What Kevin may not realize is, teams probably feel the same frustration he once did, but it's him on the other side. This was in Durant's own way, a tribute to Kobe the competitor, and he also mentions it on Nike's farewell video for Kobe.
To the end, Durant found the perfect way to send Kobe off on the basketball court.
“I remember when Michael Jordan was on his way out and Kobe didn't take it easy on him. That's all I was thinking. I was trying to destroy him every chance I got. Every time I got the ball.”
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