Kevin Durant has undergone somewhat of a metamorphosis since joining his new team in the Golden State Warriors, boasting a completely different mojo than the one Oklahoma City Thunder fans had been used to throughout his nine-year stint with the franchise.
Durant dealt with the backlash from his choice to join Golden State throughout last season, becoming much more outspoken and no longer caring what fans think of him through his statements.
TNT analyst Charles Barkley dissected his transformation from his early days to where he is now.
“Kevin is interesting because he used to be one of the nicest, nicest guys in the world. When he went to Golden State, he's trying to prove something to people, I think,” Barkley said in an appearance in ESPN's Get Up! “He's a great player, and he's a great, great guy. But it seems like when people turned against him, he let it really affect him, and he's just turned into a totally different person. It's been fascinating to watch from a distance. He's become a pain in the butt, to be honest with you.”
A little further back, LeBron James was faced with a similar fan reaction following his move to the Miami Heat, adopting this villainous alter-ego after the incessant criticism of his choice to team up with his friends Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh for the next superteam.
This more than anything proved to be only a phase of James' career, as it surely will be with Durant, who like James has grown and matured into his role — making hardware his goal, rather than the popularity awards.
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