Less than one month ago, Kevin Durant was celebrating the U.S. Men's Basketball Team's 96-66 victory over Serbia to capture the gold medal at the Olympics in Rio by draping the American flag over his shoulders. It was a gesture that showed his pride in the country he was representing at the games. Over the last couple of weeks, however, much has been said about the way athletes such as Colin Kaepernick have treated the flag, as well as what it means to kneel during the playing of the national anthem before games.
Durant spoke at a leadership gathering in Austin, Tex. on Friday and revealed what he thought of Kaepernick's gesture. While KD didn't speak on the reasoning behind Kaep's decision, he echoed a similar sentiment to that of his Golden State Warriors teammate Steph Curry, expressing his support towards someone standing up for what they truly believe in.
“I’m behind anyone who stands up for what they believe in. Colin Kaepernick is standing up for what he believes in. That’s what makes our country so great, right? You have the luxury to do so. He was unapologetic about it, and in his defense, I don’t think he was trying to disrespect anyone," Durant said, according to the Mercury News. "I think he was trying to get his point across. I’m all for anyone who wants to do that. As athletes, we have this huge platform. A lot of people are watching at all times. Sometimes it may not be what you do, they like. But if you feel like it’s gonna be impactful, that’s on you. I feel like everyone should stand up for what they believe.”
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