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February 18, 2018; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Team LeBron forwards LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers (23) and Kevin Durant (35) of the Golden State Warriors react before the 2018 NBA All Star Game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
USA Today via Reuters
February 18, 2018; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Team LeBron forwards LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers (23) and Kevin Durant (35) of the Golden State Warriors react before the 2018 NBA All Star Game at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
The idea of can women playing in the NBA is not new. But there have been fierce arguments on both sides, but the bottom line is that the physical attributes just don’t match. And when a former teammate of LeBron James heard the idea of Kevin Durant playing in the WNBA, he gave a scathing response.
Iman Shumpert is a former NBA champion who is known for his time with the Cleveland Cavaliers and the New York Knicks. He is currently a free agent, but on his best days; he was a defensive stopper and high-flying dunker. LeBron got him to the Cavs for that very reason.
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Former teammate of LeBron James laughs at the idea of Kevin Durant playing in the WNBA
Shumpert was recently interviewed by VladTV and he was asked what he thought about women playing in the NBA. He said that they could probably play but they will need 4 years to adjust. That is because the physical attributes that are required to play in the NBA are just too high. Then the reporter jokingly asked if Kevin Durant put on a wig and went to play in the WNBA, what would happen? Shumpert couldn’t believe what he heard, and he started laughing.
He said, “Juwanna Mann… Man make the movie, Kevin Durant: Juwanna Man Part 2, Make the movie and it’ll show you exactly what happened, boy. Oh, Party time, and y’all give him a little rock so he can shoot it from Arkansas.”
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USA Today via Reuters
Oct 13, 2021; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Mercury center Kia Vaughn (1) and Phoenix Mercury guard Bria Hartley (14) double team Chicago Sky forward/center Candace Parker (3) during the first half of game two of the 2021 WNBA Finals at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
“It’s gonna be crazy, but you just can’t ask a female to launch herself into 7ft. No matter if you put on a wig… You already got the physical capabilities to do this. I’m saying that whole Juwanna man sh-t is crazy.”
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On the skill level, the NBA and WNBA players can probably match up. But when it comes to physical attributes, it is just not fair. And Shumpert wasn’t trying to disrespect women players.
He just said they need time to develop those attributes and the only way you could develop those attributes is by playing in the league for some time. According to him, they need to get ready to the adjustments and the differences in the games before actually start competing.
