Rarely does an athlete of Durant's stature take time to address criticism, though the morning after Phoenix's season-opening win over the Los Angeles Clippers, Durant couldn't hold back on something said about him via ESPN's Stephen A Smith.

Superstar forward Kevin Durant led the way for Phoenix, finishing with a team-high 25 points, shooting 47 percent from the field and 40 percent from beyond the arc. He also reeled in seven rebounds and led the team in minutes played with 44.

Phoenix Suns head coach Mike Budenholzer must have heard Kevin Durant’s leadership being questioned over the years. ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith just criticized him Thursday for not being a better leader who can have an impact on teammates because of the respect he’s earned as an all-time great player.

After the Phoenix Suns beat the Los Angeles Clippers 116-113 in overtime, spoiling Steve Ballmer’s Intuit Dome debut in Los Angeles, ESPN’s Stephen A Smith had some harsh words for superstar Kevin Durant.