Kevin Durant Reacts to Fan Asking NBA to Change Rules to FIBA: 'Yall Just Be Yappin'

Tyler Conway @@jtylerconway

Featured Columnist IVJuly 29, 2024

LILLE, FRANCE - JULY 28: Kevin Durant #7 of Team United States looks to pass against Vasilije Micic #22 of Team Serbia during the second half of the Men's Group Phase - Group C game between Serbia and the United States on day two of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Stade Pierre Mauroy on July 28, 2024 in Lille, France. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

Kevin Durant has logged back on.

Durant went back and forth with fans Monday over their differences in their preferred styles of basketball:

Kevin Durant @KDTrey5
I swear yall just be yappin. What rules u wanna see man?

Kevin Durant @KDTrey5
If u want to eliminate defensive 3 seconds then the games will be slower.

Kevin Durant @KDTrey5
The beauty of basketball is not callin all them sets but playing off instincts and lettin the talent dictate the game..gettin out in transition, driving and kicking, playing random basketball. U want a trick play every possession like it's football. That's not why our game is…

Kevin Durant @KDTrey5
Random basketball!! U not comprehending what I'm saying. U can RANDOMLY set a screen, RANDOMLY back cut, RANDOMLY make a pass to the open man. Focus on what I'm saying

Kevin Durant @KDTrey5
I been playing fiba for 15 years and I've seen some of the nastiest flops you'll ever see lol baiting the refs to make a call is a universal thing, not just a nba thing. Yall hate the way Americans play ball, just say that

Kevin Durant @KDTrey5
Who said X's and O's don't belong in the game??? u assumed I'm thinking this because I said play more random basketball. That's yall problem, you think u so smart…

In a since-deleted post, Durant referred to some fans as "lames."

Fans have spent the early part of the Olympic process comparing and contrasting the FIBA and NBA styles, with opinions being split across the board. FIBA basketball tends to be a slower, more team-oriented style, whereas the NBA's uptempo style spotlights individual brilliance.

Durant is a superstar in all realms, becoming one of the greatest players in NBA history and arguably the single best player in Olympic history. If the United States wins gold at the 2024 Summer Olympics, Durant will be the first men's basketball player with four gold medals. He is already tied with Carmelo Anthony for the most all-time with three golds.

It's interesting that Durant's terse back-and-forth with fans came a day after he scored 23 points in a brilliant scoring display in the United States' 110-84 win over Serbia. Some fans who came out on the FIBA side of the stylistic argument actually highlighted Durant's play on the international stage to boost their argument.

It appears Durant does not agree.

That said, Team USA will continue reaping the rewards of his ability to adapt to any style.