Many fans and pundits have criticized the difference in Kevin Durant's attitude since joining the Golden State Warriors, going from a rather meek, soft-talking star to one that will take on basketball hoopla over social media and address the pettiest of claims when it's aimed at his character.
Fox Sports 1 panelist Chris Broussard encapsulated what's perhaps a complex answer when it comes to the two-time Finals MVP, explaining that his transformation is not as easy as a complete turnaround, but rather a progressive erosion that's happened over time.
Via Drew Shiller of NBC Sports Bay Area:
“He’s a conflicted guy,” said Broussard on FS1's First Things First. “There’s a part of him that’s religious. He has ministers come visit him and hang out with him during the season. Then there’s a big part of him that’s doing things that don’t match up with his faith. He was engaged a few years ago. His fiancee broke up with him, she said he stopped living like a Christian. And I’ve talked to him about that. He’s conflicted in that regard with who he is in terms of that.”
Broussard then noted how his move to Golden State gave him the opportunity to turn that around and express himself more freely.
“And then on the court… the guy we saw in Oklahoma City was not cursing all the time, was not being as aggressive in terms of arguing and maybe fighting with guys or getting technicals…
“Durant texted me and said ‘the guy you see now is the real me. The guy in Oklahoma City was the phony — I was just trying to please everybody and do what I thought everybody wanted me to do.'”
"Durant texted me and said: 'the guy you see now is the real me. The guy in OKC was the phony, I was just trying to please everybody.'" — @Chris_Broussard pic.twitter.com/DRlvftC91J
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) August 1, 2018
There's a certain pressure that comes from being in a conservative fan base in OKC and having to please the fans with a certain expectation of his character.
Durant did that for eight seasons in Oklahoma City, making his move to the more-liberal Bay Area a breath of fresh air, with a rabid fanbase that puts his product on the court above his social media antics.
A career-high on technical fouls, the use of a burner Twitter account to engage in fights with those who criticize him, along with countless shots at President Donald Trump — these are all things that can be brushed aside when he's bringing championships home.
So far, staying true to himself has reaped more benefits than muting his emotions for the sake of mass appeal.
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