NBA: Stephen A. Smith blasts Kevin Durant's leadership: “Nothing more than…”

Even though technical ability is one of the main attributes for a professional athlete, that alone is not enough to be a winner and successful. There are several intangible factors necessary for an athlete to reach the elite. Therefore, for the North American “ESPN” commentator, Stephen A. Smiththere are some serious reservations in the leadership style of Kevin Durant at the Phoenix Suns.

“What can we say about a team that has a superstar with Kevin’s attitude? He is a reference that says he is what he is, nothing more than that, so accept what I am. Okay, but what if your team needs something more? What if that's not enough, for example? In the end, is this behavior normal or a characteristic that should be improved?”said the analyst.

“When we discuss the great players and winners in history, first of all, we talk about great leaders. Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, for example, are easy names. But what about Isiah Thomas? Because he was the one who transformed Detroit's bad boys into a committed squad. That’s what a leader is, but we just don’t see that kind of attitude from Kevin.” added Smith.

Smith is not the first to comment on the leadership abilities of the Arizona franchise's number 35. The former player Charles Barkley has already become a public dislike of the star because of this type of comment. There is no doubt that the winger is one of the best players of all time, but, for the analyst, this “passivity” separates him from some legends of the sport.