Kevin Durant reveals the cause of Gary Payton Sr. Encounter vs. Warriors – NBC Sports Bay Area & California

On By Littum

While Warriors’ performance was definitely forgetful, the same cannot be said of a funny mid-game exchange between Kevin Durant and Gary Payton Sr. Under Golden State’s 130-105 loss to Phoenix Suns Friday night at the Chase Center.

Gary Payton and KD quit each other

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– Warriors at the NBC Sports Bay area (@Nbcswarriors.bsky.social? 31 January 2025 at. 21:02

After Friday’s game, Durant explained what triggered the fun interaction with Payton, revealing their light-hearted quarrel started back during the Paris Olympics in 2024.

“Yes, it’s always good when I come across an older player, especially there played in the 90s because (I) feels like it’s NBA’s golden year. So I try to tell them, especially GP,” Durant said to journalists. “I am trying to let them know how it would have been if you would have been on the field with me because they tend to talk about the mentality of our era players. So every time. GP a great sport about it , one of my favorite players, someone I look up to, got great respect for.

“I think it started in the summer in Team USA. We were all in the same room, Team USA, and the first thing I said to him was that he couldn’t protect me he’s too small. Those Dudes he played back in the day wasn’t close to me.

Durant wasted no time to support his words with action, and rattled three consecutive made 3-Pointers to close the third quarter, giving Phoenix a pleasant lead on the way into the game’s last frame.

Payton is honored for his defense ability at all times, a skill that was only surpassed on the field by his ability to write talk and rattle opponents.

However, it seems that he found a worthy opponent in Durant.

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