Friday’s game between the Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns at Chase Center was full of excitement. But it wasn’t just the action on the court that caught everyone’s attention. An unexpected exchange of trash talk between Suns star Kevin Durant and retired NBA legend Gary Payton Sr. stole the spotlight.
Payton Sr., the father of Warriors wing Gary Payton II, was seated across from the Warriors’ bench. Unexpectedly, Durant made his way over during the third quarter. The two were then seen trash-talking as the camera captured the playful back-and-forth.
Kevin Durant – Gary Payton exchanging words. 😂😂
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Durant may have gained some extra motivation from the interaction. He drained three consecutive three-pointers shortly after, giving the Suns a 98-79 lead.
Despite the intense back-and-forth, Durant had some final words for Payton Sr. as the third quarter came to a close. However, the Suns maintained their momentum and went on to win the game 130-105. Durant finished the game with 19 points, six rebounds, and three assists in 29 minutes.
Kevin Durant Reflects On Trash Talking with Gary Payton Sr. After Suns’ Win
After Friday’s game, Kevin Durant spoke about his playful trash-talking with Gary Payton Sr. during the game. Durant explained that it’s always interesting when he faces off with older players, particularly those who played in the ’90s.
“It’s always good when I run into an older player, especially if they played in the ’90s, because they feel like that’s the golden years of the NBA. So I try to let them know, especially GP, I try to let them know what it would have been like if they’d have been on the court with me. They tend to talk down on the mentality of our era’s players,” Durant said.
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Payton Sr. retired in 2007, the same year Durant was drafted into the NBA. Though Durant and Payton Sr. never played together on the Warriors, their banter reportedly started during Team USA activities in the summer. Durant had even told Payton Sr. that he couldn’t guard him.
