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The NBA offseason is just getting going; while some point to the NBA Draft or NBA Free Agency as the start of the offseason, others could say when minimal stories dominate airwaves is when the offseason really begins. Enter CJ McCollum and Kevin Durant. The two engaged in a Twitter exchange stemming from a podcast appearance by Durant on McCollum’s “Pull Up” podcast. Let’s try to make sense of the situation.
It started with a podcast
Durant told McCollum during his podcast appearance, “you know you guys (the Portland Trail Blazers) aren’t going to win a championship.” Durant also said the Blazers played like an eight-seed during their sweep at the hands of the New Orleans Pelicans.
Portland fans didn’t take too kindly to this statement, but it was also hard to argue against it. And McCollum seemed friendly in the conversation, never defensive. Then…
Snakes, profanity and a resolution (?)
McCollum and Durant re-heated talks about Durant’s signing with the Warriors when McCollum called the move “soft” and Durant likened him to snakes:
I still think the b word is harsh and shouldn’t be used. . He know that decision was soft but I respect it. It’s like getting jumped with ur brothers by a gang you should’ve beat then joining the gang that jumped u and ur brothers 2 months later & forgetting about your bros https://t.co/BFGqQy1lwR
— CJ McCollum (@CJMcCollum) July 26, 2018
So,I would get into a gang fight, lose, plot on my brother for 2 months in our home and then go get the gang we lost to and beat him up? U think that low of me CJ? I just did your fuckin podcast. Snakes in the grass boy I tell ya
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) July 26, 2018
After starting things, McCollum decided to take an it’s-all-good approach with his NBA peer:
There is no feud y’all gotta chill. It was simply an analogy. I’m done speaking on KD and the warriors bc it’s childish of me to do so and soft lol (will be taken out of context). I’ve always said what I feel but we all know I’ve never been a . Back to the grind pic.twitter.com/93B39bqKTS
— CJ McCollum (@CJMcCollum) July 26, 2018
Damian Lillard reacts
McCollum’s backcourt partner Damian Lillard appeared to not like Durant’s comment about the Blazers not being in contention for a championship:
Dame ain’t laughing pic.twitter.com/qAeE9tnwMv
— Bleacher Report NBA (@BR_NBA) July 25, 2018
Just another NBA offseason.