One would imagine that Kevin Durant wouldn’t be supportive of a parody NBA news social media account that consistently spreads misinformation about the league’s stars — including himself.
But when it comes to @TheNBACentel, the 2014 NBA MVP is a fan — or at least enjoys the reaction it elicits from those who fall for its posts.
“Sometimes I wake up and look at @TheNBACentel comments just to truly see how many dummies come online thinking that they have high iq,” Durant wrote on Monday. “Good morning.”
Sometimes I wake up and look at @TheNBACentel comments just to truly see how many dummies come online thinking that they have high iq. Good morning
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) October 14, 2024
Durant’s comment was likely spurred by a parody post made by the account over the weekend, which “reported” the reason why the 36-year-old forward remains single.
“Kevin Durant reveals why he’s single,” the post read before adding a fake quote from the Phoenix Suns star: “’Still rolling solo because I’m not dealing with the headache of debating ball with a woman who can’t name my MVP year or break down a pick-and-roll.’”
As with any parody post, it cited a source — in this case, @ESPNNBA — and included a picture of Durant, which for whatever reason often seems to be enough for social media users to overlook obvious flags, like the misspelling of “central” or the absurdity of the quote itself.
Kevin Durant reveals why he’s single:
“Still rolling solo because I’m not dealing with the headache of debating ball with a woman who can’t name my MVP year or break down a pick-and-roll.”
(Via @ESPNNBA) pic.twitter.com/w7aZwerG98
— NBACentel (@TheNBACentel) October 12, 2024
The reaction was predictable, with many falling for it as if it was real. Durant — as he is wont to do — even called out one such social media user, directly replying to the post himself.
“You got centel’d…” he wrote.
You got centel’d…
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) October 14, 2024
At this point, Durant’s social media behavior has become the stuff of legend, with the 14-time All-Star having evolved from using burner accounts to embracing being very online. And while he remains a polarizing presence to many fans, his shoutout of @TheNBACentel serves as a strong reminder to remain vigilant when it comes to obvious parody accounts on social media.
About Ben Axelrod
Ben Axelrod is a veteran of the sports media landscape, having most recently worked for NBC's Cleveland affiliate, WKYC. Prior to his time in Cleveland, he covered Ohio State football and the Big Ten for outlets including Cox Media Group, Bleacher Report, Scout and Rivals.