The NBA on TNT crew just roasted Kevin Durant's postgame interview because they thought it was low energy ? pic.twitter.com/eA69Pz9Ylw
— Sam Hustis (@SamHustis) December 23, 2020
Forty-eight-year-old Shaquille O’Neal and his merry band of TNT mischief-makers were far better equipped to parry Kevin Durant than the Warriors were.
After the Nets destroyed the Warriors in Tuesday’s season opener, Durant looking as if he never tore his Achilles and immediately assuming his superstar mantle, he also announced his return as a curious personality who doesn’t buy into many professional basketball niceties.
Durant was not going to show much emotion or offer the TNT gang much when he put on the headset after the 125-99 blowout at Barclays Center. Especially after Charles Barkley recently jabbed at Kyrie Irving, telling him to “stop acting like you’re the smartest person in the world.”
Perhaps Durant remembered the comments. Barkley asked whether he just felt like he needed to get his timing down because he’s had time to heal from the surgery.
“Yeah,” Durant responded.
He was playing against Stephen Curry, said hi to Draymond Green before the game, going against the team with which he had played three monumental seasons. There had to be some emotion, right?
“No emotions at all,” Durant said. “It’s good to see old friends and old teammates. But I wouldn’t say it was any emotions. Guys just came out here and played extremely hard and put on a good show for opening night.”
He began walking away before Ernie Johnson had finished thanking him — and the TNT crew pounced.
“It was loud in that arena,” Kenny Smith said, very much tongue in cheek.
“There was so much energy in there, wasn’t there,” Shaq said.
And then they started role-playing.
“Charles, how many gifts did you buy for Kenny this year?” Shaq asked.
“None,” said a deadpanning Barkley.
“Kenny, how are your kids doing?” Barkley asked.
“Good,” Johnson murmured.
Durant is back, as is the personality that has made him so perplexing.