LAS VEGAS — In real life, as on social media, it’s tough to tell how seriously Kevin Durant takes his feuds.
Because even while playing down his latest riff, this time with CJ McCollum of the Portland Trail Blazers, the Warriors star made it clear he will fiercely defend his reputation.
“I say something back and I’m the sensitive one?” Durant said after a spirited Team USA practice at UNLV. “I mean, I know you’re all trying to make me look crazy and strip me of my credibility. I see what you’re doing. But I’m going to keep standing.”
Durant and McCollum mixed it up on Twitter on Wednesday, with McCollum questioning Durant’s decision to leave the Oklahoma City Thunder to sign with the Warriors in 2016. The Blazers guard called it “soft” and compared it to switching sides in a fight. He’d already told Durant that personally when he was a guest on the “Pull Up with CJ McCollum” podcast.
Durant fired back on Twitter with: “U think that low of me CJ? I just did your (expletive) podcast. Snakes in the grass boy, I tell ya.” He capped off that exchange with a laughing emoji.
At his informal press gathering Thursday, things began on a lighthearted note. The question referenced “the incident yesterday with CJ.”
“CJ who?” Durant replied. “Oh, McCollum. What happened yesterday?”
Thus began something of an Abbott &Costello routine, with the reporter dancing around the subject while Durant let him squirm.
Reporter: Is that all in fun?
Durant: What did you think it was?
Reporter: It seemed a little more serious.
Durant: Why?
Reporter: Just because it seemed like you were serious.
Durant: Why me?
Reporter: Because of what he had said.
Durant: So why isn’t he upset?
Reporter: He doesn’t seem to be upset.
Durant: So why am I upset then?
This went on for quite some time. Finally, the nine-time All-Star vented some frustration over a repeated pattern. The way Durant sees it, everybody else can take potshots at will. But if Durant pipes up? It’s a media sensation, with him in the villain’s role.
“I go about my business,” the NBA Finals MVP said, “but every time I say something, House of Highlights and Bleacher Report run with it. … Everybody runs with it.
“Now people come to me and say, ‘Damn, man. I didn’t know you were so cool’ when they meet me in person. Why? Because of what y’all say. And that goes for everybody around here. … I just talk. I say how I feel. But I guess I’m the bad guy.”
McCollum is on the Team USA roster but was among a handful of players who did not participate in the 2-hour practice Thursday. Many of Durant’s Warriors teammates also chose to miss this two-day camp, for various reasons. Stephen Curry earlier this month announced that he would spend this time with his family, including his newborn son.
Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, meanwhile, made the late decision to not participate. They are among the 35 roster hopefuls to represent USA in the FIBA World Cup (in China, in 2019) and the 2020 Summer Olympics (in Tokyo).
Gregg Popovich took over the coaching reins this season, and will stay in charge through 2020. His assistant coaching staff here includes Mike Brown of the Warriors.
Durant, who has previous Team USA experience, said it’s been a smooth transition from Mike Krzyzewski to Popovich.
“It feels like the same atmosphere, the same energy here,” he said. “The little details might change. But I think they preach the same thing in terms of togetherness and unity and doing this as a group for something bigger than ourselves.”
