The Charles Barkley/Kevin Durant Feud Is Alive And Well After Chuck Took Some Additional Shots During His 60 Minutes Interview

Andrew D. Bernstein. Getty Images.

Sometimes, the more things may change, the more they actually stay the same. Take the never ending battle between Charles Barkley vs Kevin Durant. In the event you maybe thought that beef was over, I regret to inform you it's still alive and well. This isn't exactly a new beef either, as the two have been taking jabs at each other for years now.

There was that time Chuck basically called KD a baby back bitch

“Well I’d say, ‘Kevin you’re one of the greatest players I’ve ever seen. You’ve also got some of the thinnest skin I’ve ever seen. I don’t know if you’re made for New York City,” Barkley said on a conference call to promote American Century Championship golf tournament. “I think that would be the toughest aspect.

“If he’s arguing with these teenagers online, he’s not going to be able to deal with that New York media. He’s a great person, he’s a great player. I don’t think he has the mental makeup to play in New York, that’s just my personal opinion.”

Then of course there was the whole "bus driver" nonsense 

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to which KD was quick to point out that Chuck himself did in fact try and ring chase

which certainly wasn't the best look. Maybe you thought this is where things would end, with each side realizing the other would never change their mind.

Of course, that's not what happened, with Chuck just last summer coming back with a nice little "Mr. Miserable" dig at KD

Which again felt a little weird at the time. I know people don't want to give KD credit for his two rings, but he absolutely showed up in those Finals and was a huge part of why GS won. I'm not sure how that made him an abject failure, KD was a monster in those Finals. You never hear Chuck talk about himself in that way, despite ya know, never reaching the top of the mountain. It just felt like Chuck was hating just to hate.

And then of course there was KD who took his own shots at Chuck just this past March

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and around and around we go. We get it, these two still have beef. If there was any doubt about that, all you have to do is listen to Chuck's recent appearance on 60 minutes (which was awesome by the way)

On some level I get it, people take KD responding to everything on Twitter as him being sensitive and thinking he's above criticism. While I don't think that's it, I can see why some might. At the same time, look at some of the things that Chuck has said about KD. That's not exactly completely objective non-bias criticism. He's clearly taking shots, oftentimes exaggerating, and I don't think responding/defending yourself in those situations makes you sensitive or unable to be criticized. Chuck plays into the narrative that we currently have on NBA Twitter about KD, KD responds, and the cycle repeats itself.

The ending of that clip was a great example of what I mean. According to Chuck, KD is just this new-age athlete that can't take the heat, yet MJ himself broke off a relationship with Chuck over something he said. I'm pretty sure MJ isn't playing in 2023, but I could be wrong.

Part of what makes Chuck so awesome and very entertaining is he says what's on his mind and doesn't give a shit what anyone has to say about it. It makes for fantastic television. I just think it's lame to get all upset when the person he's talking about responds. You could make the case that Chuck is just as sensitive about the KD situation as Durant is. 

The crazy part of all of this is let's say the Suns pull off another title this season (or in the next few seasons). I'm pretty sure Chuck is going to give KD zero credit (again) because the Suns formed a superteam regardless of how KD plays. He's sort of in this lose-lose situation for basically the rest of his career when you think about it as long as he's on PHX. If KD never wins another ring, he's going to get roasted. If he does win another ring, people will discredit it the same way they did in GS.  

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The one thing we do know though is this beef certainly isn't ending any time soon.