Kevin Durant opens up about his shyness, critics and a potential rap album

Kevin Durant spoke candidly with The Washington Post about his shyness, critics and a potential rap album. (Noah Graham/Getty Images)

Kevin Durant opened up about his inherent shyness, the things that irk him about critics and the potential for a rap album in the next year in a candid conversation from the Ritz-Carlton in his native Washington D.C. with The Washington Post's Michael Lee.

On the compliment that he sees more as an insult:

One thing I can tell you is, I get upset now when people say, KD, Anthony Davis, Kryie Irving, they are going to be good for the league down the line. I don’t like that. Because I think I’m established now. My time is now. I feel as though I’ve proved myself these last five years that I can be one of the top players in the league. I’ve got a long way to go to being the ultimate best, but I think my time is now. And I’m starting to enter my prime. I’ve heard a few times, in three or four years, this league is going to be yours, and I feel as though I’m competing with the top guys in the league right now.

On overcoming his shyness to play basketball:

The thing that I was more concerned about is that I was just so shy. I didn’t want to look dumb. She told me don’t worry about that. You can’t let other people dictate how you live. She gave me a whole little speech. I said, why not? I thought I could be funny in it. Just go out there and be myself. I want people to see another side of me that they don’t see on the basketball court. I said, hey, why not? Knocked it out.

On the possibility of releasing a rap album in the next two years:

I think I’m going to do something. I have some resources and some nice people that’s going to help me out. I have a studio in my house already. Maybe I might put out a little something and have a little something.

Thunderstuck