Kevin Durant Slams Media After Contentious Giovani Bernard Interview

Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant was upset over the treatment of Tampa Bay Buccaneers RB Giovani Bernard.

Kevin Durant Slams Media After Contentious Giovani Bernard Interview

Giovani Bernard, a running back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, made a very regrettable error during a recent loss against the Cincinnati Bengals. During what appeared to be a fake punt play, Bernard handled a snap improperly, which resulted in a turnover for Tampa Bay from which they were unable to recover.

While it is normal for players involved in such plays to speak to the media following games, there are some boundaries that journalists requesting information from athletes should never breach. Jenna Laine of ESPN recorded a really awkward moment in the locker room and posted it to Twitter. In it, Bernard can be heard and seen being mistreated by Laine and other reporters.

Although the running back handled the matter with professionalism, it was an example of media entitlement and contempt that should never occur. Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant voiced his views on Twitter as the video is still being heavily discussed there.

Durant first commended Bernard for his professionalism despite receiving such awful treatment. Durant criticised the media for their entitlement in subsequent Tweets that addressed responses to his comments. He acknowledged that some decent individuals like covering sports, but the sports industry could do without the “spoiled, entitled clickbait media.”

“Giovani handled this like a true pro,” Kevin Durant tweeted.

Responding to a follower who said that the reporters peppering Bernard were full of themselves, Kevin Durant added, “Entitlement in this world has gone to another level. Media believes they are responsible for the popularity of the game.”

The Bucs were leading 17-3 at the time of the fumble, an easy play to point to after the game as to when the momentum swung.

After the defeat, Bernard, 31, was not in the mood to discuss his error with media in the locker room. When reporters approached him for the first time this season, according to ESPN team reporter Jenna Laine, Bernard grumbled. He then requested, bizarrely, if he might go see his family outside.

In response to his complaint, a different reporter said, “What have you done for us to talk to you about all year?”

Eventually, Bernard gave in and accepted responsibility for the error, albeit in a way that provided reporters with very little copy in the form of quotes.

“A miscommunication is all it was, on my part,” Bernard said, in response to a question about what happened on the play. “I take complete fault for that.”

FOR MORE NBA UPDATES- 

Isiah Thomas’ Beef With Michael Jordan Continues After ‘Last Dance’