Kevin Durant’s words in social media draw $50,000 NBA fine

The NBA fined Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant $50,000 for using “offensive and derogatory” language on social media, an apparent reference to screenshots of a private social media conversation between Durant and Michael Rapaport, an actor and podcast host.

On Tuesday, Rapaport posted screenshots of an Instagram conversation with Durant in which Durant used homophobic and misogynistic language to refer to Rapaport, who was critical of an interview Durant did on TNT in December.

The images shared by Rapaport did not appear to show the full exchange of messages between the two, but in one, Durant seemed to threaten Rapaport by naming a time and place for them to meet. Rapaport, who is white and has publicly made racist comments, responded multiple times by telling Durant, who is Black, to “Go help the kids in BROWNSVILLE, BROOKLYN.” Brownsville is a mostly Black neighborhood where Rapaport has said he has gone to play basketball.

After Rapaport posted the screenshots on Twitter, Durant replied to the post, saying,“Me and mike talk CRAZIER than this on the regular and today he’s pissed. … My bad mike, damn!!” Rapaport then replied with misogynistic language. Rapaport’s initial post has been shared more than 15,000 times.

The Nets declined to comment. Durant, 32, apologized Thursday.

“I’m sorry that people have seen the language I used,” Durant told reporters.“That’s not what I want people to see or hear from me, but hopefully I can move past it and get back out there on the floor.”