Kevin Durant is slammed for criticizing eighth-grader’s trick move after the 13-year-old said he was ‘hurt and confused’ by NBA star’s ‘this s**t stinks’ comment
- Video of Jayden Moore, 13, which has been viewed almost 6 million times, saw the teen spinning around before missing a shot at the hoop in a basketball game
- The footage caught the attention of Brooklyn Nets NBA star Kevin Durant, who tweeted ‘This s**t stinks’
- After another user defended Moore’s performance because he was just a young teen, Durant fired back: ‘It’s about habits man’
- Jayden was humble in his response to Durant and thanked him for the ‘constructive criticism,’ but he told USA Today he was ‘hurt and confused’
Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant has defended his brutally honest critique of an eighth-grader who posted video of himself attempting to shoot hoops on Twitter.
Video of Jayden Moore, 13, from Minnetonka, Minnesota, pulling off a series of moves on the court ended up going viral and has been viewed more than six million times.
But the NBA star did not hold back in his disdain for the youngster’s attempt.
‘This s**t stinks,’ Durant tweeted this week after watching Moore missing a shot.
Durant’s tough love garnered its own criticism online with many reminding the 33-year-old player that Moore was just a young kid.
Video of Jayden Moore, 13, which has been viewed almost 6 million times, shows the teen spinning around before missing a shot at the hoop in a basketball game
The footage caught the attention of Brooklyn Nets NBA star Kevin Durant who tweeted ‘This s**t stinks’
Durant later pushed back and doubled down on his critique, saying: ‘It’s about habits man’
‘He’s just a kid, champ,’ wrote Sreenivasan Jain.
But Durant pushed back stating: ‘It’s about habits man.’
Jayden was humble in his response to the NBA superstar.
‘Thanks for the constructive criticism.. I’ve grown from my 6th grade year! Maybe we can work on some stuff together!! All love. Hopefully I can get to where you at one day! #keepgrinding,’ he tweeted in response.
Jayden told USA Today that he was ‘hurt and confused’ after Durant went at him.
One user defended Moore’s performance because he was just a young teen, Durant fired back ‘It’s about habits man.’
Jayden was humble in his response to Durant and thanked him for the ‘constructive criticism’
Jayden apparently saw the move – which saw him turning around on the court before attempting to shoot a hoop – on Instagram and had bet his father $10 if he could execute it on the court.
‘Like, what made him take time out of his day to say something negative instead of encouraging me or telling what really needs to be done and then texting me privately or something like that,’ Jayden said.
Jayden’s mother, Valeta, said she told her son to not take the criticism personally.
‘I was going to say, “Why’s KD being so mean? It’s the week of Christmas”,’ she said.
Reaction on Twitter was mixed with some supporters defending Durant but many said it was inappropriate to go after the teen
‘There’s almost an immaturity with them (NBA players) to take the time to even go on Twitter and look at that and comment,’ said Jayden’s coach, Ken Novak.
‘In fairness to them, I’m sure they’re trying to create what they see as better basketball, people sharing. And maybe they’re making a comment trying to say that. But they’ve just got to realize who they’re saying it to.’
Reaction on Twitter was mixed with some supporters defending Durant saying he was not criticizing the teenager.
Others suggested that the ‘tough love’ received from Durant could help Jayden develop as a player.