Charles Barkley and Shaquille O'Neal mocked Kevin Durant for an unenthusiastic interview after his first Nets game
- After his first game with the Brooklyn Nets, Kevin Durant gave a dry interview to the "Inside the NBA" crew.
- When the interview ended, Shaquille O'Neal and Charles Barkley mocked Durant by asking questions and giving one-word answers.
Shaquille O'Neal and Charles Barkley seemed less than thrilled with Kevin Durant's dry postgame interview on opening night in the NBA.
After Durant and the Brooklyn Nets beat the Golden State Warriors, 125-99, in the first game of the 2020-21 NBA season, Durant joined the "Inside the NBA" crew to discuss his first game with the Nets.
At times, Durant gave short or vague answers, at one point only saying, "Yeah," when Barkley asked him if he has been working on his game in recent months.
Not all of Durant's answers were short or vague, but as the interview ended and TNT's Ernie Johnson thanked Durant for his time, Durant said, "Yessir," took off the headphones, and walked off camera. When the broadcast went back to the TNT studio, there was an awkward silence.
O'Neal joked, "There was so much energy in that arena."
Johnson attempted to call off Barkley, O'Neal, and Kenny Smith, saying, "Be nice," but O'Neal and Barkley were already off and running.
"Hey Shaq, how was the shopping spree for the kids?" Barkley asked.
O'Neal, looking down, said, "Pretty good."
O'Neal then asked Barkley how many gifts he bought Smith. Barkley said, "None" and then looked away.
Johnson gave up, insisting they go to the highlights.
Watch the interview and ensuing roast below:
Of course, Durant has a history with the "Inside the NBA" cast, namely Barkley, that could have played into it.
When Durant was on the Warriors, he challenged Barkley to tell Draymond Green to his face that he was "annoying," as Barkley often said about Green.
Durant may not have liked Barkley's comments about his teammate Kyrie Irving recently, either. After Irving initially refused to speak to media this season, resulting in a fine from the NBA, Barkley ripped Irving.
"When he talks, I'm like, what is he saying and what is he trying to say?" Barkley said. "He starts talking about what an artist is. He's a basketball player. That's what he is. Listen, we're not front line responders. We're not teachers. Yo man, you dribble a basketball, stop acting like you're the smartest person in the world."
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