Navigating the NBA as a young player can be pretty challenging, particularly when facing the trash talk from seasoned veterans. Dyson Daniels, a promising talent entering his second season with the New Orleans Pelicans, has encountered his fair share of verbal abuse on the court, notably from established stars like Kevin Durant.
The 21-year-old recently appeared on The Howie Games, where he discussed his two-year experience in the league. During the interview, host Mark Howard brought up the topic of trash talk on the court, prompting Daniels to share his insights.
The Pelicans guard initially hesitated, saying, “I don't know if we can repeat it here… It's a lot of swear words.” However, after receiving the green light from Howard, the former Pelicans star recalled the story, retelling the encounter with KD.
Dyson Daniels sharing his on-court moment with Kevin Durant
Durant not only told Daniels his moves in advance but also mouthed some not-safe-for-work words after successfully making his shots.
“[Kevin Durant]Bump you and hit a fadeaway and say, ‘Little a** bi**h you can’t guard me’. KD, he’ll tell me what is he gonna do. He was in the post talking to me, he hit a turnaround fader & said ‘hold this motherf*cker,” the Aussie guard said.
Howard burst into laughter immediately. He then inquired if Daniels reciprocated any trash talk to Durant in return. Unfortunately, the young star didn't get the chance to engage in banter with the seasoned player.
Daniels explained, “I’m usually sitting in the corner, waiting for my opportunity, but I would love to get involved in more trash talk.”
Interestingly, Daniels has faced KD in three games during his career, always coming off the bench and logging an average of 21 minutes per game.
Kevin Durant not backing down from anyone
The recollection from Daniels highlights Durant's reputation as one of the toughest players in the NBA. His exceptional skill in finding his scoring spots surpasses many, granting him a lethal advantage. Being able to back up his words with actions, he doesn't shy away from talking trash to his defenders. It's not just limited to opponents; Durant is also notorious for engaging with NBA fans in a similar manner.
Since departing the Oklahoma City Thunder for the Golden State Warriors in 2016, Durant has faced criticism from NBA fans for choosing what many consider the easier path to championships.
Despite this, he doesn't tolerate disrespect and is quick to respond when necessary. Among NBA athletes, he is often seen as one of the most assertive and combative keyboard warriors.
Sometimes he even removes his comments after realizing how they might look, but most of the time, he doesn't hesitate to banter with random NBA fans on social media. It's all in good fun for him in the end.
Durant also doesn’t shy away from younger players taking their shots at him.In the Phoenix Suns' playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, KD experienced some playful jabs from Anthony Edwards. The sight of Ant-Man confidently trash-talking KD after scoring a three-pointer against him stunned the NBA community, with KD responding with just a smirk.
After their series sweep, Durant and Edwards shared a wholesome moment on the court before the 2x NBA Champ headed to the locker room.
Perhaps in the future, we might see a comparable interaction between Dyson Daniels and KD.
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