Durant makes it clear he’s not interested in trading the court for the ring.
Celebrity boxing has received a lot more attention in recent years. The biggest reason for this is Jake Paul, a famous YouTuber and boxing aficionado. Given his recognition and love for the sport, it was not surprising that in a span of several years, he went from fighting lesser-known stars and retired athletes to fighting the one and only Mike Tyson.
Despite being close to 60 years old, “The Baddest Man on the Planet” is certainly the most well-known figure Paul has faced to this day. Their bout is the talk of the town, so it is no surprise that when Phoenix Suns superstar Kevin Durant was asked about it, he was happy to give his two cents.
“It’s a young man’s sport. Yeah, this man has been training for a long time,” said KD.
KD had no interest in going into the ring with Paul
Podcast hosts had to use the opportunity to ask the one-time MVP if he would ever like to step into the ring. Given his physical attributes, Durant would for sure be a tough matchup. However, despite that, the former Texas Longhorn was blunt with responses when asked about him being in the opposite corner from Jake.
“Hell no! No man, I see how he did a couple NBA players,” Durant quipped.
The only hooper Paul has fought to this day is Nate Robinson. It was one of the first matches in his exhibition career, and it was the social media star’s first KO. Interestingly enough, that fight was a co-main event with Tyson-Roy Jones Jr.
Not the only NBA player interested in the fight
Tyson is more than a boxer; he is a fighting icon and somebody who transcended his sport. So it is no surprise that some give him a chance in a match despite his advanced age. One of them is the most active YouTuber among NBA players, Gilbert Arenas, who thinks that a famed fighter will take home the victory.
“He (Tyson) is a professional fighter with probably the most power we’ve seen in boxing itself. Just an accidental right hook or something, you’re dead. You’re not built for these types of hits, so if you even last, we already know it’s scripted,” Arenas depicted on Gil’s Arena.
It will be interesting to see what will happen in Arlington on Friday. However, we can be certain that NBA players’ eyes will be drawn to it, and there is a potential that another boxing buff among the league’s players would line up to get his opportunity in the ring.