Kevin Durant Responds To Racism Allegations Following His Controversial Trash Talk During The South Sudan Game

Kevin Durant (Photo by Thomas COEX / AFP) (Photo by THOMAS COEX/AFP via Getty Images)
Kevin Durant responded to his trash language during Team USA‘s 2024 Olympic clash against South Sudan on Wednesday, amid criticism for his purportedly racist statements. The two-time NBA champion clarified on X, the former Twitter platform, that the taunts were harmless banter and that everything was well at the end of the game.

Kevin Durant got into a verbal altercation with South Sudan coach Royal Ivey during Wednesday’s Group C match between Team USA and South Sudan. In the second half of the game, Durant was sulking at the other as he walked to the line to try two free shots. Ivey’s statements escaped detection by the microphone, while Durant’s purported remarks went viral.

Durant tweeted, “It’s just banter. We hugged it out after the game.”

“Y’all n*ggas ain’t tough,” Durant said during the game. The game ended on Wednesday with Team USA defeating South Sudan 103-86 to win handily. In 22 minutes, Kevin Durant scored 14 points, grabbed two rebounds, dished out three assists, and committed three thefts.