Durant, Vogel react to Charles Barkley's talk on KD leadership - ESPN

Kevin Durant has a long history of not enjoying being in second.

From being second-best on his high school team to being drafted second in 2007, he's known for saying he is «tired of being second.» Perhaps that's why he made time Tuesday to respond to Charles Barkley's comments during a TruTV alternative broadcast of the All-Star Game.

«No disrespect to Kevin. Kevin's a follower. He's not a leader. He's proven that on all his stops,» Barkley said during the game. "[Devin] Booker's a hell of a player, also. I think he's going to have to take the initiative and take this Suns team to the next level.… But I said the same thing with Boston: one of your guys has to step forward, he has to step forward, and for me, for Phoenix to be successful, it has to be Booker."

Barkley has been vocal about Durant and his departures from teams. In an interview with CBS in March 2023, Barkley called him «very sensitive» and «part of a generation that can't be criticized.»

In a wide-ranging interview for Boardroom — a platform owned by Durant — KD was asked by his agent, Rich Kleiman, about Barkley's most recent comments and his image in the league.

«I don't feel like I want people to call me a leader, but I also don't want people to say I'm not one either, because they don't see what goes on behind the scenes of what I talk about or my intentions or relationships that I've built with my teammates and my support staff,» Durant said.

He described those critical of his leadership as «not being aware» of his leadership style.

On Wednesday, Suns coach Frank Vogel defended Durant on "Bickley & Marotta."

«He definitely leads by example, but he also speaks up when he needs to,» he said. «Not every player is going to be a rah-rah type,» Vogel said.