Kevin Durant Responds to Frustration Rumors and Criticisms on Instagram
Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant has addressed recent rumors and criticisms circulating in the media about his frustration with the team’s performance in the absence of Bradley Beal and Devin Booker. ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported on Christmas Day that there were concerns within the Suns organization regarding Durant’s frustration.
After a subpar performance in a 128–114 loss to the Dallas Mavericks, where Durant scored only 16 points on 4-of-11 shooting with six turnovers, the rumors gained traction. A clip highlighting a defensive lapse against the Mavericks sparked fan speculation, with one comment suggesting Durant was becoming a “cancer/cry baby.”
Durant responded on Instagram, acknowledging Wojnarowski’s report and expressing frustration with how narratives can be manipulated. The comment, which has since been deleted, read: “Woj says somebody else ‘feels’ that I’m frustrated and it turned into me being mentally checked out. This s— crazy, these people can flat out lie on my name and make s— up and you people will believe it, but when my teammates and coaches speak on how I am as a teammate, u ignore it lol.”
Durant, who acknowledged his need for improvement after the Mavericks loss, highlighted the discrepancy between media narratives and the testimonials from teammates and coaches. He emphasized that focusing on point totals alone does not accurately reflect his contributions, as facilitating teammates for scoring is integral to his game.
Given Durant’s history of navigating through situations with the Golden State Warriors and the Brooklyn Nets, fans and media tend to speculate on his reactions to unfavorable team dynamics.
Durant, however, continues to deliver impressive individual performances for the Suns, averaging 30.3 points per game, his highest in nine seasons. While the Suns stand at 14–15, Durant’s disappointment likely stems from the team’s inability to feature the anticipated lineup with Durant, Booker, and Beal due to injuries.