In one of the most NBA scandals of all-time, Kevin Durant — Finals MVP, champion, perennial all-star, one of the best players of his generation and maybe ever — has been revealed to have at least one secret social media account he uses to argue with critics.
Kevin Durant suffers from impostor syndrome
Good morning. We have that and more in Tuesday’s NBA newsletter.
Photo by Jerritt Clark/Getty Images for Roc Nation Sports/D’USSE Cognac
How do we know? Someone tweeted some third-person tweets at haters from KD’s official, verified Twitter account — an occasion that either indicated Durant has multiple accounts he switches between (and goofed up switching to the secret account here) or that a social media manager for Durant accidentally tweeted them from KD’s account instead of their own. That kerfuffle led to snooping which dug up the secret Instagram.
Charlotte Wilder writes that KD’s burner accounts are totally understandable. We have suggestions on other things KD can do with his time. Governor of Basketball Twitter Joel Embiid has jokes.
Because we’re gluttons for punishment, the staff of SBNation.com is predicting the top 101 players of 2021 this week. We actually did this four years ago; in this retrospective, I delve into how we did. I also took a stab at ranking the top 100 players of today. Mike Prada explains why we’re doing this. Follow along as we unveil the picks all week.
Kyrie Irving had a bizarre appearance on First Take where he answered nothing except the question as to whether Kyrie Irving is a strange bird. (Yes, he is.) Can someone confirm whether Kyrie read an Andy Warhol biography in high school?
Congratulations to Slovenia, champions of Europe! Maybe this will get Anthony Randolph back in the league? Congratulations also to Tunisia, who beat Nigeria to become champions of Africa!
The Lynx and Sparks both swept their semifinals challengers, so we’ll get our awaited rematch in the WNBA Finals, starting Sunday.
The NBA Board of Governors will soon vote on lottery reform. Aaron Barzilai and Mike Lopez assess how much will actually change.
Shout out to Andrew Wiggins for reportedly getting a five-year, $145 million extension from the Timberwolves.
Mason Plumlee is also in the money with a three-year, $41 million deal with Denver. What does it mean for the Nuggets?
Adidas has passed Jordan Brand as the No. 2 sneaker company in the nation, according to industry analysts. I choose to credit Damian Lillard and Kanye’s “Facts.”
Bob Delaney is out as the chief of the NBA’s referee corps. It’s been presented as a retirement, though the timing seems odd for that.
Speaking of Melo, I am largely higher on Melo than most other internet basketball writers, but I found Kevin Pelton’s breakdown of his current place in the NBA elucidating.
Jimmer Fredette has a signature line in China.
The Nets promoted Sarah Kustok to the role of primary game analyst.
In appreciation of Michael Finley’s run with the Mavericks.
Mitchell Robinson, a top-15 recruit, is going to forgo college basketball to prep for the 2018 NBA Draft. I find it interesting his team of advisors is opting for a year of workouts instead of the G League.
All of Nike’s statement jerseys have been revealed. Some of these are boring. Some are extremely nice.
Kofie Yeboah on the evolution of NBA 2K.
We don’t usually talk podcasts here in the newsletter, but Zach Lowe’s conversation with Jackie MacMullan, the best basketball writer ever, was excellent.
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