“We’re going to look back in like 10 or 15 years and be like, ‘Why the f*** did we spend all this time with all the bulls*** discourse and not just appreciate literally one of the greatest basketball players to ever play this game?’” In his capacity as an analyst, JJ Redick didn’t hesitate to highlight his belief that Kevin Durant was underappreciated. Despite having devoted 17+ years to the NBA, including memorable Team USA stints, KD’s prowess has often not been placed at the forefront, with priority being given to his peers. While the vet occasionally called it out, fortunately, like JJ, the Slim Reaper does not lack believers, as he was recently reminded.

A post by ‘duranthighlights’ has started doing the rounds on social media. It featured a clip of Klay Thompson (now with the Mavs) engaging in a presser. When asked how he attempts to lead the game towards him when playing alongside “superstars” like Stephen Curry, Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving, etc, the sharpshooter had to remind the reporter, “Kevin Durant too, he’s pretty good.”

The compilation clip then switched to Anthony Edwards, who was once being asked whether being around LeBron and Steph during the Olympics helped him. The reporter had not even finished the question before the Wolves leader blurted “KD” onto the mic.

Kevin Durant would’ve been certainly touched once the reel caught his attention. After all, there was a big reason for him to reply with a response that stated, “They can’t erase what we’ve done Klay lmao. Media members will rejoice when I retire.”

Kevin Durant’s issues with the media aren’t new. Back in 2016, when he was still with OKC, the player went viral for claiming, “Man, the (media and experts are) always trying to nitpick us. I mean, they don’t like us. They don’t like how Russell (Westbrook) talks to the media. They don’t like how I talk to the media. So obviously, yeah, they’re not going to give us the benefit of the doubt.”

After joining the Golden State Warriors the same year, he revealed using the criticism of the media to fuel his game, stating, “They say I ain’t hungry! I’m out here! …. They told me I ain’t have no drive! I’m out here. They called me a coward! Putting in work.”

From claiming that he is portrayed as ‘the sensitive one’ to criticizing them for being too concerned about his previous free agency, Kevin Durant’s issues with the people who cover him are reportedly evergreen.

8 years later, his opinion doesn’t seem to have changed. Even if there is any truth to what the 36-year-old presumes, it is nice to know that he continues having the support of the players with whom he has hooped, at some point in time, especially Klay Thompson.

Despite claims that Klay Thompson would be sacrificed after KD was added to the Warriors in 2016, he stayed and formed a bond with the new addition. Together with Steph Curry and Draymond Green, the duo played a key role in helping GSW secure Championship titles in both 2017 and 2018. While Durant’s exit from the Bay Area was not without controversy, the hooper held KT in high regard.

Therefore, when the Splash Brother brought his 13-year journey with the Warriors to an end, he was amongst the first people to send his tribute. “A Bay Area God,” wrote Kevin Durant on Klay Thompson’s official Instagram post announcing his exit. “One chapter closes, another one opens. Keep doing you, champ.” While the sharpshooter’s recent remarks were met with appreciation by the Slim Reaper, it shouldn’t come as a surprise. After all, this isn’t the first time that Klay has chosen to make a case for the player’s greatness.

Klay Thompson revealed being bothered when people don’t appreciate Kevin Durant enough: “That’s like Shaq numbers”

Back in 2022, three years after Kevin Durant’s Warriors exit, Klay Thompson appeared for an interview on the All the Smoke podcast. He described the three years that the Slim Reaper spent with the Warriors as “special.” Having gotten a first-hand account of the skill possessed by KD, the 4-time champ made an appeal for the people to be more appreciative. “That’s why it bothers me when people don’t talk about Kevin’s greatness,” said Thompson when describing Durant’s tenure in the Bay Area.

“This man averaged 35 and 15 in the Finals. … That’s like Shaq numbers. Like, what are we doing here? It’s like, ‘He’s a bus rider’ and all this stuff. You can’t argue with the numbers. 35 and 15.” The ‘bus rider’ remark was a reference to what Charles Barkley had used to disparage Kevin Durant. He had made a case that KD was simply ‘riding the bus’ with the Warriors because they were a championship-winning squad with an already central figure, Stephen Curry, years before his arrival.

Well, Charles Barkley has not been the first person to use this reasoning, and he may not be the last. While it would be impossible to wipe this opinion entirely from people’s minds, stars like Klay Thompson, Anthony Edwards, and JJ Redick have made it known that their support for Kevin Durant will remain intact, despite all media narratives.

Before you go, remember to check out this crossover between BG12 and Georgia Bulldogs star Silas Demary Jr.