Kevin Durant called Chris Bosh a "fake tough guy" after a fiery 2011 Thunder-Heat game: "He's one of them"

Kevin Durant criticized Chris Bosh as a "fake tough guy" following a heated 2011 game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Miami Heat, labeling him among players who feign toughness in the NBA. This marked a departure from Durant's typical on-court demeanor, as he usually avoids confrontations and expresses himself through scoring or social media.

The incident began during the game when James Harden drove for a layup and drew a late foul from Bosh. As Harden recovered, Durant approached—initially to check on his teammate—which escalated into a verbal clash with Bosh. The confrontation continued beyond the final buzzer, prompting Durant to publicly call out Bosh in post-game interviews.

Durant emphasized that genuine NBA toughness involves consistent performance and instilling real fear in opponents, not mere posturing. He explicitly stated to ESPN: "There's a lot of fake tough guys in this league and he's one of them," questioning Bosh's authenticity. This strong critique from the Thunder superstar highlighted the tension between the two future Hall of Famers, stemming from the on-court altercation during Harden's first-quarter play.