Kevin Durant had lots to say when Staff USA confronted South Sudan of their second sport of the Paris Olympics on Wednesday.
The South Sudanese workforce has emerged as one of many nice sporting underdog tales, however they had been at all times going to be combating an uphill battle towards Staff USA, and Kevin Durant was certain to make their lives even tougher.
Whereas taking pictures a pair of free throws, Durant taunted South Sudan head coach and shut buddy Royal Ivey with some pointed trash discuss throughout the sport.
The longer term Corridor of Famer could possibly be heard telling Ivey on no less than two events, “Y’all n**gasoline ain’t powerful”.
KD informed them they ain’t powerful 😂 pic.twitter.com/I1MU3l0G43
— LEEZUS (@AndrewLeezus) August 1, 2024
Durant and Ivey had been teammates on the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder and are shut buddies to today, so that is doubtless just a few pleasant competitors and nothing really hostile.
However, the South Sudanese workforce would have good purpose to disagree with Durant’s feedback. They’ve arguably proven extra toughness of their unlikely journey to Paris than some other workforce. That a lot was clear when Royal Ivey just lately opened as much as reporters about a few of the challenges his workforce has confronted.
“We don’t have the pleasure of getting a gymnasium, dorms, and different services,” Ivey stated. “We had a troublesome coaching camp in Rwanda, then traveled to Spain, transferring round rather a lot, taking lengthy flights, and giving up exit rows to my 7-footers. These are the issues folks don’t discuss. They don’t see us getting delayed for seven hours within the airport whereas we’re in Chad.
“Luol Deng has been funding this factor for 4 years out of his personal pocket,” Ivey added. “He pays for gyms, motels, aircraft tickets — every little thing. Kudos to Luol and the workers. We wouldn’t have been in a position to put this workforce collectively with out them.”
After starting their debut Olympic marketing campaign with a win over Puerto Rico, after which shedding to america, South Sudan will play Serbia of their closing pool sport on Saturday at 3pm ET.
READ MORE: ‘It Nonetheless Doesn’t Really feel Actual’: Inside South Sudan’s Unlikely Run to the Olympics
