Kevin Durant defended JaVale McGee by making fun of ‘cop’ Shaquille O’Neal

After TNT analyst Shaquille O’Neal and Golden State Warriors center JaVale McGee had a heated argument on social media on Thursday, All-Star forward Kevin Durant came to his teammate’s aid, pointing out some of the flaws in O’Neal’s Hall of Fame career.

“Shaq was a shitty free throw shooter, he missed dunks. He airballed free throws. He couldn’t shoot outside the paint,” Durant told reporters after practice on Friday, according to the Bay Area News Group’s Anthony Slater. “He was bigger than everybody, didn’t have no skill. But he was bigger and stronger than everybody, and he’s still a great player, but you had your flaws too as a player.

“And you played on five or six teams, too, as a player. So it’s not like you were like this perfect center. You had your flaws, too.”

Durant’s shots at O’Neal were in response to the Hall of Fame big man calling McGee a “bumass,” and threatening to give hands to the 29-year-old big man on sight. The eight-time All-Star and 2014 league MVP felt O’Neal, who was sworn in as a Georgia sheriff’s deputy in December, shouldn’t be able to intimidate players on social media.

“It’s cool and funny, but when you just keep doing it time and time and time again for no reason,” Durant said. “And then a guy actually disagrees with you and threaten him?

“I didn’t know cops could threaten civilians like that.”

McGee had become O’Neal’s punching bag in his Shaqtin-a-Fool segment on TNT, where he highlights the week’s worst moments by NBA players. Earlier in the week, O’Neal had highlighted McGee as one of the worst moments of the 2016-17 season.

“I gotta go with my boy, JaVale McGee,” he said during that segment. “I’m going with JaVale every time.”

McGee had apparently had enough of O’Neal’s ribbing, and fired back on Thursday. A heated exchange ensued.

Warriors head coach Steve Kerr also came to McGee’s defense when asked about his feud with a four-time NBA champion, noting O’Neal’s repeated ribbing created a false perception of the work his center puts in.

“I don’t blame him for being frustrated. Shaq’s been picking on him for years and years and years,” Kerr said. “You think about JaVale’s career. You’re in this position where someone on national TV is making fun of you night after night. It’s not the greatest thing for your reputation.

“I can tell you, I had a preconceived notion about JaVale before he got here that turned out to be totally false. And a lot of that was because of what goes on with Shaq’s Shaqtin-a-Fool thing.”

McGee signed a one-year deal at the veteran’s minimum to join the Warriors during the summer. He is averaging six points and three rebounds per game in limited playing time with a Golden State team that holds the league’s best record.

“JaVale works extremely hard. He’s come in here and done so much for us as a player,” Durant said. “He only wants to be respected just like everyone else.”