The secret to Kevin Durant's second-fiddle role to LeBron James may have been revealed Thursday.
Newsok.com reported Thursday that Durant, the Oklahoma City Thunder star forward, was agitated when asked about comments made by James, the Miami Heat star who told ESPN.com earlier in the week that he was "jealous" of Durant's free pass to take any shot he wants.
That agitation, however, was not directed at James, but rather the media for reporting James' comments.
"What he say?" Durant said, facetiously, according to newsok.com. "How can I not see it? It's been on CNN. It's been on ABC, FOX Sports. Man, it's been everywhere. Ya'll blowing that out of proportion, man. I mean, I'm pretty sure, matter of fact, I'm 100 percent sure LeBron can do whatever he wants."
James told ESPN.com that he sometimes covets Durant's volume of shots. Durant is third in the NBA in shots per game (19.4), behind New York Knick Carmelo Anthony (21.0) and Portland Trail Blazer LaMarcus Aldridge (20.9). James shoots 16.2 times per game, which is tied for 17th in the league with Charlotte Bobcats guard Kemba Walker and Blazers guard Damian Lillard.
"I get jealous sometimes when I look over at KD and he's like 16-for-32 (from the field) and then 14-for-34. ... Man," James told ESPN.com's Tom Haberstroh. "But there are games where I have it going, and then at the end of the game, I'm like, damn, I shot just 12-for-16? Why don't I get up at least six or seven more? I definitely notice it."
Durant begins to bite at James' statement but then aims his stern response at the media, rather than King James.
"There's probably a handful of times I shot 30 times," Durant said. "I'm sure he's shot more 30-shot games than I have over his career. But I guess the guy is just trying to challenge himself. I don't know. But you guys are blowing that up for no reason."
Except for the fact that James may have said it for no reason as well. Could Durant's refusal to get mad at LeBron for LeBron's own quote indicate an intimidation factor James has over Durant?
Otherwise, why wouldn't "KD" call out LeBron?
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