The Golden State Warriors are coming off perhaps their most eventful game of the year against the New Orleans Pelicans. The gritty match featured a number of heated exchanges throughout the game.

However, none were more notable than the spat between superstars Kevin Durant and DeMarcus Cousins. Durant's recent slew of early exits from games has raised questions about the former MVP's seemingly altered demeanor. Former teammate Earl Watson even compared his transition to that of Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant during an appearance on Fox Sports' Speak For Yourself:

“I started with KD (Kevin Durant) in Seattle, he was my rookie. The second year, we moved to OKC and drafted Russell Westbrook. I love KD. At one point in Kobe Bryant's career, he changed into the “Black Mamba”. He went into a mindset of ‘Don't touch me.'”

Watson added that Durant is simply going through his own transformation.

“I love it, I love what KD is doing because he's becoming a man in front of our eyes and maybe we just saw him grow. He's continuing to grow in front of our eyes from a high school kid, to young man, to grown man.

There is plenty of truth to what Watson is saying. Durant came into the league as a seemingly calm and easy-going player. However, as the years have gone by, he seems to be a bit hardened by the countless criticisms he has received, especially after the move to Golden State.

Although it is encouraging for fans to see this new gritty side of Durant, it does come with a few setbacks like potentially getting thrown out of games. That said, he will need to find a way to temper his emotions after having been ejected twice during their last road trip to give him three in the 2017-18 NBA season.