NBA News: Former Laker Explains Why Kevin Durant Makes Rivals 'Jealous'

A former Laker has pointed out why he thinks some NBA stars are jealous of Kevin Durant.

In the Brooklyn Nets’ recent blowout win over the Indiana Pacers, Durant recorded a game-high 42 points in 36 minutes. After the game, “KD” made an interesting admission by stating that contrary to what he was expecting, coming off the bench wasn’t too bad and turned out to be “like an exercise” for him.

Reacting to Durant’s assessment, NBA legend Robert Horry disagreed as every game is difficult. However, the seven-time NBA champ implied that Durant was just a cut above the rest. For Horry, Durant “makes it look easy” and other players in his position are now “jealous.”

“When I was listening to KD, [and] he says ‘exercise’? I’m like, he called this an exercise?” Horry said during an appearance on ESPN’s “The Jump.”

“This is light work for [Durant],” he continued. “That’s what you have to pick up on. When he steps on the court, he makes it look so effortless and so easy. We both played the three spot, he just makes you jealous man.”

Nets head coach Steve Nash also had almost the same thoughts on Durant’s game.

According to Nets journalist and New York Daily News’ Kristian Winfield, Nash raved about Durant’s performance against the Pacers, saying “good things happen” whenever the forward plays.

“What can I say? I’ve got the luxury of coaching Kevin Durant,” Nash said. “I can just stick him in the game and good things happen.”

While Durant’s scoring has always been exceptional, Nash stressed that the two-time NBA Finals MVP could also be an “A defender” when healthy.

“We know Kevin [Durant] can be an A defender when he’s fully fit and in rhythm. I think that’s still something he has a gap to close here with that because so much has been thrown at him,” Nash said in his post-game conference. “He starts the season having not played real or meaningful basketball for 18 months. Then he has a Covid interruption, then the hammy, then another Covid interruption and then the thigh bruise.”

“I think it’s hard for Kevin to fully complete his game without time,” the coach continued. “We know the potential is there and we see glimpses of it, but I think if we are patient with it and allow him to get his legs, rhythm and all those things to come back, he definitely can be an A defender for us.”