Kevin Durant told the world not to believe any free agent rumors, yet the Thunder star small forward is already embroiled in a battle of he say she say with ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith.
Earlier this week, Smith went on ESPN’s First Take and said he’s been hearing rumblings that Kevin Durant could head to the Lakers in free agency.
“Regardless of how senseless it may (sound),” Smith said. “In one breath I’m hearing that if Kevin Durant doesn’t stay in Oklahoma City, L.A. is his primary objective and landing spot as opposed to South Beach or even his home of Washington, D.C.”
After the Thunder’s Friday practice, Durant addressed Smith’s claim with a strong denial.
There was the first of these unnamed sourced free agency reports that we’re expecting to come out throughout the season. The whole Lakers thing that Stephen A Smith came out with, do you have any response to that?
Durant: “I don’t talk to Stephen A Smith at all. Nobody in my family, my friends, they don’t talk to Stephen A Smith. So he’s lying.”
Durant made it clear that if you want to know something about his free agent status, just ask him.
What’s the best way to attack those because I know you’re not naive to think these won’t be popping up throughout the year?
Durant: “If you ask me a question, I’ll talk about them. But like I said before, I have people who I talk to about everything and I know for a fact they didn’t talk to him, so he’s making up stories.”
Easy Money Sniper should get used to the strong form denial this entire season, because it won’t go away until he’s officially signed an extension.
By Glenn Erby