Thursday on SportsNation, Colin Cowherd had some interesting comments about Kevin Durant. The summary of it is, he’s overrated, just a scorer and not a leader. Here’s video proof he said such things:
KD responded to Cowherd’s criticisms via Twitter: “Im a work in progress Mr.Cowherd…thanks for your criticism! Ima continue to work my hardest to get better! Believe that.” Interesting that Durant was watching SportsNation and felt compelled to respond to Cowherd’s criticisms. And the way Durant responded pretty much sums up the guy he is.
Cowherd’s main reasoning for this I suppose, is that KD hasn’t won a playoff series. But how exactly does that make him “overrated”? He’s less of a basketball player because at the age of 21, in his third year, he hasn’t won a playoff series? Now if this were year 10 of KD’s career and all he did was win scoring titles, I’d be inclined to agree. But this is the first year Durant has played on a winning club and he’s the absolute main reason for that success. And to think he’s “just a scorer” is obviously an assumption, instead of something actually researched by watching actual basketball.
Now before we get much more huffy and yell and throw things, let’s revisit what Cowherd said about KD following the pre-draft workouts in which Durant couldn’t bench 185. Cowherd BLASTED Durant and constantly praised Greg Oden. He even said, “Anyone that says Durant should be No. 1 isn’t doing their homework.” A tad ironic, considering what Cowherd said today about Durant, eh?
Kevin Durant, the guy averaging 29.7 ppg, the guy that could be the youngest scoring champ ever, the guy that should finish second for MVP at 21, the guy that has orchestrated a 20-game turnaround for his team, the guy that will likely be a 50-40-90 guy for multiple years, is overrated? I don’t think so Tim.
@justin
Oh except for that one guy who won a title at 21, 22, and 23. He was ok. KB24
Adam :
While I don’t agree with his thoughts on KD, you guys are exactly the fans that he makes fun of. “I’ll listen as long as you don’t say anything bad about ‘my’ team and if you do then your dead to me.”
I didn't even know who the guy was before, let alone listen to him. So you might say he was never born to me. What he thinks about KD, me as a fan, or anything else, I care not.
While I don't agree with his thoughts on KD, you guys are exactly the fans that he makes fun of. "I'll listen as long as you don't say anything bad about 'my' team and if you do then your dead to me."
I was talking to someone about how good KD is, and how he has gotta be top three in guys you would want to build a team around. Then we started talking about if KD was better than Kobe at this point... and while I dont think he is quite there yet, one of my buddies friends seemed outraged about this, claiming that KD was not even at AI's level yet... Maybe I am wrong but I dont see that comparison at all, and this guy was a big Thunder fan.
People who thought Oden should have been drafted first will go to their grave's defending that notion. Life is so much easier when you admit you were wrong. Colin obviously is hanging on to his original pre-draft statements. What a tool.
Bolts! Bolts! Bolts!
Shot at KD???
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=5030453
Also, any bolts today?
@Royce Young
You would say things you don't believe to massively drive ratings and get yourself promoted from local radio in Portland to national radio on ESPN. I think the money / job security / prestige speaks for itself.
Not to defend what Cowherd said, but he has previously said many times that he only likes rooting for proven winners and that he doesn't consider players to be "great" until they win in the playoffs. Obviously this is a short-sighted view, but he's being consistent with what he's said before. It's one of his many opinions that bug me, but I guess if you don't like him don't listen.
Also, PLEASE DON'T FEED THE TROLL YOU GUYS! Don't email him, he'll only read your "pathetic" emails on the air and use the occasion to further slam on the Thunder. He WANTS you to email him, so don't.
DEAD TO ME!!!
Collin Coward is about as smart as Gilbert Arenas pulling a gun on his teammate in DC. Look, I know KD and the team haven't won a playoff game. Does he even remember the last two years? All this talk about him not being a leader, well Collin should come down to practice and watch a leader practice. And yes he talks smack for his ratings. If anyone ever watched Sportsnation they know its a joke. At lest if you watch PTI or Around the Horn those guys will say something funny and get into trouble. Finally, I don't know when these people will learn not to mess with KD. This guy is an assassin and is going to light up the Lakers tonite. Keep fueling the fire sports writers, we appreciate it.
colin cowherd? who is he? is he that guy on the show with the hot chick? i watch it on mute.
FYI - Darnell Jackson was signed by the Bucks.
Mustafa Shakur was waived by the Thunder.
@grant phillips
Probably because of Michelle Beadle... I find her to be quite attractive..
justin :
Clark Matthews :Cowherd constantly says things he doesn’t believe in order to drive discussion for his radio show.
Yep. That’s all there is to say about that.
It's just the same as the other guy started the +/- thing last summer...
cowherd is what we on the Internet call a troll. He'll only say things that get people angry and make sure they continue to listen... My only hope is that this puts kd in 'F you' mode to prove all the haters wrong
he reminds me of skip bayless a little... i dont think he means it.. just doing it to drive his rating ups... but that sportsnation show is really growing on me. i find it hilarious...
Hahahahaha, I just listened to the pre-07 draft rant. Obviously a lot of people were wrong about Oden, but there weren't many who just trashed Durant like this. Durant ravaged college basketball and had literally the best season ever for a freshman. And Cowherd said he had Antonio McDyess written all over him? Wow. Not that I ever gave any credence to what this moron said, but come on. Want to know what's more important to basketball than being able to bench 185lbs? The ability to play basketball. Which Kevin Durant put on epic display in his season at Texas. It was one thing to believe Oden should be drafted first (I absolutely did not, but I accept it was common wisdom). But to trash Durant like that after the season he put up? That is just so unbelievably stupid it boggles my mind. I always knew Cowherd was dumb, but I am truly impressed by his idiocy. To say nothing of his current ridiculous comments.
Didn't a lot of people say that Rip Hamilton with the Pistons was too small, he needs to add weight, and stuff like that? If I'm thinking of the right guy, he was instrumental in the Pistons being so great in the late 90's/early 2000's.
That game was nuts. I love the clip from '07 where he stresses the importance of "core strength" in the NBA because that will help determine durability...
FINALLY!!!! K-STATE WINS! Did anyone check the refs for a Buffalo Wild Wings pager?
OOOOOOOH my god, Crawford just drilled one from 30 to put it into double OT. This game keeps getting better.
Cowherd is just another radio idiot. Moving on...
Refs just really screwed K-State, terrible call. Incredible game nonetheless.
"I don't think so Tim"
I literally lol'ed!
And no matter what anyone says, I am proud of our superstar, and wouldn't want anyone else to represent our city.
This is why I only watch cartoons and comedies on tv. Every time an idiot gets a microphone, he feels the need to broadcast how little he knows to everyone around. Inevitably, smart people with righteous anger try to out-yell him, and he thinks that any attention is good attention. So do media outlets, it appears.
Makes me feel a little bad about our society.
Cowherd's email for his morning show:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espnradio/story?page=herdmail
Cowherd reads e-mails on his morning show, I hope a good amount of people email him explaining how he's not overrated (I would get into it here but I could go on forever).
On an unrelated note, this Jordan Crawford kid has some kind of game. I have K-State winning the title, I need this one. And what happened to the Big Red?
we are just gettting beat up today, barkley said during the miami chicago game that denver is gonna run away with a series against us like they stole something.
Houston lost to the clippers tonight, 1 game closer to elimination for them.
As for durant he is 8th among SFs for steals, 5th in blocks for SF, 2nd in rebs, 9th in assists, 7th in blocks, so hardly just a scorer
And you wonder why we watch "The Dan Patrick Show" Colin..
really colin? really?
I'm pretty convinced neither of those hosts on Sports Nation know ANYTHING about sports. I can't even watch it they are so terrible. I think the shows premise is super cool but those two just drive me up a wall. KD over-ratted? Please.
Cowherd's a joke. It's a shame that he's still on ESPN because I enjoy listening to the rest of ESPN radio. Some great sports minds: SVP, Russilo (I'm sure Royce could attest to that one), Gotlieb, just to name a few. But the guy is always trying to compare things unrelated to sports, to sports. He's always coming off as a pompous, arrogant jerk and doesn't care. Admits that he has no favorite teams, just likes the good ones. As previously mentioned, he even admits to just going after ratings.
When he was only on the Herd, and wasn't popular, he was semi-tolerable. Then came Sportsnation (worst program in ESPN's history), and his ratings were boosted on radio as well, and that's when it became truly miserable to listen to him. I still like ESPN, but I really disagree with who they're attempting to target with their Sportscenter content (which used to be just highlights and analysis, but now contains much fluff), and especially shows such as First Take and Sportsnation. I always want to write to ESPN and express my disinterest with the direction they've taken, but I have yet to.
Hey, look at me! Kevin Durant is overrated! People are going to talk about me now for 24 hours! All it cost me was my dignity and a little piece of my soul...
Anyone remember Michael Jordan's HOF induction speech? I am not saying KD needs motivation quite the way Jordan did, but the way KD responded in his tweet I wouldn't be surprised if this fuels his fire.
Sounds like the guy is after ratings.
I think KD might take something like that a little personally because he's driven and he works his tail off to improve. What's more, it's paying off. Can't speak from personal experience, but I would think you do these things and then some supposed expert goes on national TV and basically shrugs you off, it gets you a little worked up. He handled it better than I probably would have, considering I would probably use very short sentences that ended with the word "you" quite a bit.
KD's a top 10 player easily, probably top 5. That's pretty incredible for a 21 year old.. Dwight Howard, LeBron, Wade, maybe Paul, maybe Kobe, maybe Carmelo. And that's about it. None of those guys except LeBron were in that tier at 21 years old..
@Clark Matthews
Yeah he's even admitted that much. Which I find weird. Why would you say things you really don't believe just to generate discussion? Odd to me.
Clark Matthews :Cowherd constantly says things he doesn’t believe in order to drive discussion for his radio show.
Yep. That's all there is to say about that. :)
Aw, Colin..you didn't. Tsk. Well, he'll learn in a couple years.
Cowherd constantly says things he doesn't believe in order to drive discussion for his radio show.