Kevin Durant has been branded a "walking contradiction" after the superstar spoke out on his failed trade away from the Brooklyn Nets earlier this summer.
After a disappointing season in which the Nets were swept in the first-round of the playoffs, Durant was unhappy with the direction of the team and insinuated that he felt he would be the fall guy for shortcomings with the team in general.
And Durant has opened up further on his trade demands to Bleacher Report, as he said: "I had some complaints in the summer, and my complaints were not about just me; it was about how we are moving as a unit.
"I want us to be respected out here in the basketball world. I don’t want players to look at us and say, ‘Oh man, these [expletive] are full of s***. That’s not the type of team I want to be on.’ So when we’re all playing like s***, you know the one person they’re going to look at. That’s why I requested a trade."
Durant ultimately stayed with the Nets, despite reported trade interest from the Boston Celtics, with the band getting back together as fellow superstar Kyrie Irving and Nash remained with the team - but started poorly with Nash quickly being axed.
However, the Nets have continued to struggle under new head coach Jacque Vaughn, with Durant then deciding to give the interview to open up on his situation.
UNDISPUTED host Shannon Sharpe was quick to question Durant's quotes, highlighting his inconsistent takes after claiming that he does not want to be a leader, but also does not want to be criticised for his team struggling, whilst also throwing shade at his teammates.
Sharpe said: "I understand what KD is saying that they needed to go harder in practice, that they needed to be pushed by the head coach to push them harder, and it seems like Steve Nash was not very receptive to that because nothing changed, and maybe that's why KD requested the trade.
"But it shows the disconnect that he has with his teammates when he comes out and says 'Our starting line-up is Edmund Sumner, Royce O'Neil, Joe Harris, Claxton and me'... - the only person he seemed to have respect for is Nic Claxton, you never address anybody by their full name, it didn't come off right.
"This is what got me most upset, is when he talked about leadership. In 2017, he said 'I came to Golden State to play basketball the way I play it right now. Steph Curry is the face of the franchise and that helps me out because I don't have to be. I don't want to have to be a leader. I am not a leader, I'm bad at saying stand behind me and follow me, I am not one of those guys'.
"But then he's telling us he wants to be a leader? And then he turns around and says 'I don't have to tell you or show you that I am a leader'.
"He's a walking contradiction. One on hand he wants the appreciation and the love and adulation that comes along with being great, but does not want any of the criticism that comes his way when he's not. When you are an all-time great player that is always going to happen, it does with Tom Brady, LeBron James... but Kevin Durant wants to escape criticism."
Durant is just a year removed from signing a four-year contract extension to remain with the Nets, but continues to be the topic of trade conversations, should the Nets struggles continue this season. The New Orleans Pelicans, Phoenix Suns and Memphis Grizzlies have all been mentioned as landing spots, with the Celtics now unlikely to go back in with a trade after starting their season strongly.
