Back to the Los Angeles Lakers Newsfeed

Lakers’ Kobe Bryant downplays Kevin Durant’s frustration with media criticism

PHILADELPHIA — The pleas became louder for Kobe Bryant to retire. Each of his airballs filled the highlight reels both on television and on social media players. The criticism on both Bryant’s shot selection and his workload increased with every Lakers’ loss.

All of which made Oklahoma City forward Kevin Durant more upset with the reaction over Bryant’s poor play over his actual performances.

“I’ve been disappointed this year because you guys [the media] treated him like s—,” Durant told reporters this week. “He’s a legend, and all I hear is about how bad he’s playing, how bad he’s shooting and it’s time for him to hang it up.