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[Saba Sports News] Kevin Durant isn’t buying the narrative that the Boston Celtics are better off without Jayson Tatum — and he’s calling out FS1’s Emmanuel Acho for pushing it.
On Thursday’s episode of The Facility, Acho argued that the Celtics match up better against the Knicks without Tatum, claiming the absence of the All-Star forward allows Jaylen Brown to lead with a more physical, tougher style of play.
“The difference between the Celtics and Knicks isn’t talent — it’s toughness,” Acho said. “Now that Jaylen Brown is the leader, it’s a tougher basketball team.”
Acho’s comments followed Boston’s dominant 127-102 Game 5 win over New York, a game Tatum missed due to injury. He claimed the Celtics may have struggled to close it out with Tatum on the floor.
Durant didn’t let that slide. He fired back on X, “Hot take artists have ruined the sport. Football guys, no disrespect but y’all boys need to stay in ya lanes… Dudes who quit football early to pursue media talkin’ mental toughness, cut it out.”
While Acho was doing his job as an analyst, his take was seen by many — Durant included — as reactionary. Tatum had 42 points in Game 4 before going down and remains one of the league’s elite. To suggest his absence improved the team struck Durant as absurd.
If Boston continues to roll, Acho may gain more supporters — though it might say more about the Knicks’ track record than Tatum’s impact.