Kevin Durant responded to his trash language during Team USA‘s 2024 Olympic clash against South Sudan on Wednesday, amid criticism for his purportedly racist statements. The two-time NBA champion clarified on X, the former Twitter platform, that the taunts were harmless banter and that everything was well at the end of the game.
Kevin Durant got into a verbal altercation with South Sudan coach Royal Ivey during Wednesday’s Group C match between Team USA and South Sudan. In the second half of the game, Durant was sulking at the other as he walked to the line to try two free shots. Ivey’s statements escaped detection by the microphone, while Durant’s purported remarks went viral.
Durant tweeted, “It’s just banter. We hugged it out after the game.”
“Y’all n*ggas ain’t tough,” Durant said during the game. The game ended on Wednesday with Team USA defeating South Sudan 103-86 to win handily. In 22 minutes, Kevin Durant scored 14 points, grabbed two rebounds, dished out three assists, and committed three thefts.
With the victory, Team USA moved up to the top of the Group C standings and, with a 2-0 record thus far, qualified for the Olympic event’s quarterfinals. South Sudan, however, dropped to a 1-1 record and will play Serbia on Thursday to decide its fate in the competition.
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Royal Ivey And Kevin Durant Shared Mutual Respect Amid Trash Talk
South Sudan’s coach, Royal Ivey, discussed the issue with the trash talk and provided clarification following Wednesday’s match against Team USA. Ivey revealed that the conversation that occurred while Kevin Durant walked to the free-throw line started when he ordered him to quit whining about the foul calls.
Ivey explained, “That’s brotherly love. I don’t lie; I tell the truth. They were fouling, and he got fouled, and he was like, ‘Play basketball!’ And I’m like, ‘How are we supposed to play basketball? You are all playing touch like it’s football.’ So, we exchanged a couple of words, and I moved on.”
The bond between Kevin Durant and Royal Ivey dates back to their days as teammates with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2010. Although Ivey’s NBA playing career ended in 2014, he and Durant remain friends. We’ll have to see if these teams will meet again at later stages of the Olympics.
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