KD slams 'no skill' Shaq for abusing his influence by picking on JaVale
The Golden State Warriors are united behind JaVale McGee in the public war of words with Shaquille O'Neal.
Kevin Durant chimed in on last night's Twitter exchange and slammed Shaq - a sworn in reserve police officer - for constantly bullying McGee from a position of influence from behind the camera on the premier NBA talk show.
"JaVale works extremely hard. He has come in here and done so much for us. He only wants to be respected just like everyone else," Durant said, according to Anthony Slater of the San Jose Mercury News.
"I understand Shaq works for a company that wants him to do that kind of stuff, to make fun of players when it's cool and funny. But when you just keep doing it time and time again, for no reason, and then the guy actually disagrees with you, then you threaten him?"
Related: Shaq, JaVale rip into each other on Twitter
"I didn't know cops could threaten civilians like that. It's definitely childish, but that's what they want from these stars and these retired players, is to feud with the guys playing now and make arguments. If I was JaVale I'd feel the same way. It's childish."
Durant also made the point that only highlighting flaws would be unfair to anyone - especially if it happened to Shaq himself.
"Shaq wants to make a joke about it, but if it was him in (McGee's) position he'd feel the same way ... Shaq was a shitty free-throw shooter, he missed dunks, he airballed free throws, he couldn't shoot outside the paint. He was bigger than everyone, didn't have no skill, bigger and stronger than everyone. Still a great player, but you had your flaws as a player and you played on five or six teams, too."
Shaq's abrasive style of poking fun - that often blends into bullying and slander - touched a nerve for McGee, who is frequently ridiculed on Inside the NBA. McGee's wildly erratic playing style often lands him on "Shaqtin' A Fool", although this latest incident was sparked by Shaq going out of his way to ridicule McGee.
"It's one thing to just have a little fun, but I think it goes a little over the top," Warriors coach and former TNT employee Steve Kerr told Anthony Slater of the San Jose Mercury News. "It's one of those things where - you think about JaVale's career - when he's in this position where someone on national TV is making fun of you night after night. It's not the greatest thing for his reputation.