Barkley: KD has been 'a pain in the butt' since Warriors move

Kevin Durant is not nice, and Charles Barkley knows why.

Barkley appeared on ESPN's "Get Up!" to discuss the sudden bad-boy act that has Durant among the league leaders in technical fouls (14) and ejections (5). The change in demeanor has been noticeable ever since he left the Oklahoma City Thunder for the Golden State Warriors in 2016.

"Kevin is interesting because he used to be one of the nicest, nicest guys in the world. When he went to Golden State, he's trying to prove something to people, I think," Barkley said.

"He's a great player, and he's a great, great guy. But it seems like when people turned against him, he let it really affect him, and he's just turned into a totally different person. It's been fascinating to watch from a distance. He's become a pain in the butt, to be honest with you."

The lasting image of Durant before his career change was the sobbing and thankful MVP that credited each of his teammates and his mother during his acceptance speech in 2014. That moment established him as the "good guy" who didn't act like other superstars.

Whether it's fair or not, that innocence label expired after Durant joined the Warriors. He instantly became the villain to many, public sentiment against him appeared to flip, and it's not inconceivable that the negativity has influenced his demeanor.