Despite all that Kevin Durant has achieved in his career, he continues to be one of the most criticized and misunderstood athletes among fans. Maybe, some of it has to do with him frequently indulging in online banter with his critics. Or people still haven’t been able to look past his controversial move to the Warriors. But seeing him get ridiculed up close and personal, KD’s mother Wanda Durant advised him to bring a change in his personality, “I personally would like him to be a little more open because I hate the narrative they have created around him.”

Sure enough, he is currently living one of the best phases of his professional career as he recently won his fourth straight gold medal at the Olympics and solidified himself as the most accomplished Team USA player in history. But regardless of his achievement and his mother’s call for change, media veteran Dan Le Batard believes that KD’s off court antics over the years have sucked the joy out of his professional life as well, “I do believe Kevin Durant is one of the great examples in my lifetime in sports of someone who’s enjoyment has been ravaged by us having too much access to them.”

More importantly, Batard meant “ravaged by social media.” Even when KD should have been fully soaking in the Olympics experience in Paris, he constantly took out time to respond to online critics. The one that made headlines was his response to a Nuggets faithful accusing him of hating Jokic’s brilliance, “To all you Nuggets fans, nobody gives a f**k who yall lames believe is the best player in the league, players got major respect for Jok, we don’t worship him like yall do but most are in awe of his brilliance” But Batard thinks that KD might someday look back on these days and regret the decisions he made, “Man. Did I need to be fighting everybody just because social media became popular while I was coming up?”

Does Kevin Durant even want to change?

While his mother wants him to open up his personality, it is possible that KD likes the way things are for him. Moreover, he might never stop speaking his mind on social media because he has publicly admitted to getting a “kick” out of responding to critics. Although the people looking from a distance might misunderstand Durant, the people close to him always have good things to say about the two-time champion. Teaming up with him in the Olympics after being a rival for his entire career, even LeBron James couldn’t help but praise KD, “He’s just out of this world talent. I think he even goes even harder in practice, and when the game starts, it’s just routine for him.”

Meanwhile, the young superstars also look up to him as Anthony Edwards deemed him his “favorite player of all time” earlier this year. And their chemistry in Paris showed how much they loved sharing the court with each other. Maybe for Durant, the opinion of his inner circle matters way more to him than what the people are saying about him. And 16 years into his career, it seems unlikely that he would change his ways only to change the narrative around him. Do you agree?

Before you go, do not forget to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Asia Avinger