Kevin Durant has a theory of why some NBA stars are reluctant to team up with LeBron James - and it has nothing to do with the four-time MVP, but rather the media circus that constantly follows him.
As part of Ric Bucher's recent piece for Bleacher Report titled, "Why Doesn't Anyone Want To Play With LeBron Anymore?" Durant explained that the "groupies in the media" hanging on LeBron's every word make for a "toxic" environment in the locker room.
"So much hype comes from being around LeBron from other people," Durant said. "He has so many fanboys in the media. Even the beat writers just fawn over him. I'm like, we're playing basketball here, and it's not even about basketball at certain points. So I get why anyone wouldn't want to be in that environment because it's toxic. Especially when the attention is bulls--t attention, fluff. It's not LeBron's fault at all; it's just the fact you have so many groupies in the media that love to hang on every word. Just get out of the way and let us play basketball."
Durant also notes that some players might simply be unwilling to adjust their approach to the game to fit LeBron's style of play. In doing so, KD credited Kevin Love and Chris Bosh, both of whom altered their games to mesh with the four-time MVP.
"It depends on what kind of player you are," Durant said. "If you're Kyle Korver, then it makes sense. Because Kyle Korver in Atlanta was the bulk of the offense, and he's not a No. 1 option at all, not even close. So his talents benefit more from a guy who can pass and penetrate and get him open."
"Kevin Love, he had to totally change his game to fit, to be a shooter," Durant said. "Which, I think, he deserves way more credit for switching his game. Bosh, same way. LeBron is a player that needs to play with guys that already know how they play the game—and shooters. Like, young players that are still developing, it's always going to be hard because he demands the ball so much, he demands control of the offense and he creates for everybody."
As basketball fans well know, there are a number highly coveted All-Stars set to become free agents in 2019, including Kevin Durant, his teammate Klay Thompson and Kawhi Leonard.
Speaking of the latter, KD says it "doesn't really make sense" for him to team up with LeBron in L.A.
"If you're a younger player like a Kawhi, trying to pair him with LeBron James doesn't really make sense," he added. "Kawhi enjoys having the ball in his hands, controlling the offense, dictating the tempo with his post-ups; it's how he plays the game. A lot of young players are developing that skill. They don't need another guy."