Now that we know this will be Kobe Bryant's last season in the NBA, players throughout the league have been asked to share their thoughts on his career. Most have talked about how much they respect Bryant and have learned from him.
Thunder forward Kevin Durant said he grew up idolizing Bryant and is angry at how his twilight is being covered.
"I've been disappointed this year because you guys treated him like shit," Durant said to reporters following a team practice on Monday, via Anthony Slater of the Oklahoman. "He's a legend and all I hear about is how bad he's playing, how bad he's shooting, time for him to hang it up. You guys treated one of our legends like shit and I really didn't like it. Hopefully now you can start being nice to him now that he decided to retire after this year."
This isn't the first time Durant has publicly called out the the people who cover the sport. During All-Star Weekend last year, he told reporters he was only speaking to them because he was required to, before adding, "You guys really don't know shit."
Durant prefaced his media comments by saying that he grew up watching Bryant and that he considered Bryant his generation's Michael Jordan.
"I studied him, wanted to be like him," Durant said.
He's also just one of dozens of players who have publicly praised Bryant in the hours since he announced that he'd be retiring after this season.
"A legend," Rockets guard James Harden said Sunday night, via the Washington Post. "I grew up watching him. He was my ‘MJ.' Just for him to be done, for his last go-round, it's sad. That's the end of a dynasty. He had a really good run, but it comes to an end. He's a monster. He's a beast. He's a warrior, man. He's a competitor. I don't think there will ever be another guy like him. The way he did it, he willed his teammates to victories, championships, things like that. It was a great story."
Other players with messages for and about Bryant included J.R. Smith, Paul George and former teammate Pau Gasol.
Even Dwight Howard, who famously didn't get along with Bryant during his one season with the Lakers, had nice words to share.
"Kobe is one of the greatest to ever play the game," Howard said, via the Post. "He had an amazing career ... it all comes to an end for all of us. He was somebody we all grew up watching. He paved the way for so many players coming out of high school, and his work ethic, everything that he stands for on the court has been great. For, what, 20 years? That's amazing, to play this game for a long time."
But Howard's comments weren't all praise. He did balk when asked what he learned from Bryant during that year in LA.
"Did I learn something from him?" Howard said, reportedly followed by a laugh and a pause. "Oh, man ... we're going to go to the next question now."
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