“He Ain’t no damn KD”: Stephen A. Smith betrays beloved Knicks All-Star for Kevin Durant, Amid Leadership Dig

After getting eliminated from the second round of playoffs against the Indiana Pacers, the New York Knicks are looking for a more solid approach to their offense with Kevin Durant. But to achieve it successfully, they have to trade someone, and for now, Julius Randle seems to be the best chip to go. The Knicks forward dislocated his shoulder in January this year and has not stepped on the court since then. A month ago, it was announced that Randle would have season-ending shoulder surgery, and that ended the Knicks’ hope for a solid offense. However, it was not just the Knicks roster; Stephen A. Smith, a die-hard Randle supporter, could not get more sad.

Since the Knicks now have a trade opportunity, Stephen A. Smith presented his opinion, which went opposite to his liking. While appearing on the ‘First Take’ show, when Smith was asked by a fan if he would trade Randle and first-round picks for Kevin Durant as the Knicks, he chose the latter. ” Exclaiming in shock, Smith replied, “As much as I love Randle, he ain’t no damn KD. …Julius Randle, please forgive me. I gotta take my chances with KD. KD’s all-world, ” the NBA analyst stated while making the hard choice for his favorite team.

However, Smith made the best choice for his team, considering Kevin Durant’s importance as a basketball player. He praised KD claiming him “one of the greatest players to have ever played the game.” Yet Smith did not lose his cool as he also pointed out the lack of communication from the Suns’ forward. His detachment from his teammates is in contrast to the culture at the Knicks. But as a player he has still averaged 26.8 points in just four games this season.

Can Kevin Durant resolve the leadership issue at the Knicks?

Jalen Brunson has been constantly handling the leadership at the Knicks with a calm mind after Julius Randle’s injury. However, it seems too much of a load to Brunson. The Knicks players are leading the offense with their plays and also going with the leadership responsibilities. It is not easy to live up to such responsibilities in high-pressure situations. Jalen is still young, and the Knicks need someone experienced to handle the tough games.

Kevin Durant is the perfect candidate who can aid Brunson with his powerhouse offense. Moreover, with a silent mind, KD can also lead the Knicks from the front. However, these situations don’t seem to fall in favor of the New York-based team. The Phoenix Suns general manager James Jones clearly stated to Bleacher Report that there is “no scenario” for trading Kevin Durant.

Julius Randle backed off from his position a long time ago and Brunson has too much burden at Knicks. On top of that, KD has a minimal chance of getting out of the Suns. So, for the Knicks, the leadership situation might stay for the next season as well. However, the draft next month can also come up with surprises. Till then, watch out for what Shaq’s ex-agent, Leonard Armato, had to say about the marketing genius through this video.