Shaquille O’Neal’s criticism of Warriors’ JaVale McGee is ‘childish,’ Kevin Durant says
OAKLAND, Calif. — Golden State Warriors center JaVale McGee fired back at Shaquille O’Neal via Twitter after the former star-turned TNT analyst posted on his verified account a disparaging photo of McGee with the words, “America meet Javale “BUM” McGee.”
O’Neal also responded angrily to McGee , saying he would “smack” McGee’s “bum a—” after McGee reacted to yet more mockery.
Warriors coach Steve Kerr and teammate Kevin Durant backed McGee on Friday, with Durant calling Shaq “childish” while criticizing the retired center’s poor free throw shooting and other flaws in his game during a Hall of Fame NBA career.
“JaVale works extremely hard. He’s come in here and done so much for us as a player,” Durant said. “He only wants to be respected just like anybody else. I understand that Shaq works for a company that wants him to do that type of stuff and make fun of the players. It’s cool and funny but when you just keep doing it time and time and time again for no reason and then a guy actually disagrees with you and you threaten him, I didn’t know cops could threaten civilians like that. It’s definitely childish but that’s what they want from these stars, these retired players,…