Kevin Durant had lots to say when Staff USA confronted South Sudan of their second recreation of the Paris Olympics on Wednesday.
The South Sudanese group has emerged as one of many nice sporting underdog tales, however they had been at all times going to be combating an uphill battle in opposition to Staff USA, and Kevin Durant was positive to make their lives even more durable.
Whereas taking pictures a pair of free throws, Durant taunted South Sudan head coach and shut pal Royal Ivey with some pointed trash discuss throughout the recreation.
The long run Corridor of Famer may very well be heard telling Ivey on a minimum of two events, “Y’all n**fuel ain’t powerful”.
KD advised 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 this present day, so that is possible just a few pleasant competitors and nothing really hostile.
Nonetheless, the South Sudanese group would have good purpose to disagree with Durant’s feedback. They’ve arguably proven extra toughness of their unlikely journey to Paris than every other group. That a lot was clear when Royal Ivey not too long ago opened as much as reporters about a number of the challenges his group 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 speak about. 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, lodges, airplane tickets — every thing. Kudos to Luol and the workers. We wouldn’t have been capable of put this group collectively with out them.”
After starting their debut Olympic marketing campaign with a win over Puerto Rico, after which dropping to the USA, South Sudan will play Serbia of their closing pool recreation on Saturday at 3pm ET.
READ MORE: ‘It Nonetheless Doesn’t Really feel Actual’: Inside South Sudan’s Unlikely Run to the Olympics
