ESPN analyst JJ Redick believes fans share some of the blame for sports media being so heavily driven by hot takes and explosive rants.

On Tuesday’s episode of First Take, the panel was reacting to recent comments from Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant. The 35-year-old said in a conversation with his agent Rich Kleiman that he’s not given the credit he deserves as a leader because he’s not as vocal as other stars.

KD on why the media may think he’s not a leader.

This and more in our full conversation dropping tomorrow 2/20 — on the @BleacherReport App and Boardroom platforms. pic.twitter.com/CxUeuWvErx

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Stephen A. Smith claimed that Durant gets the credit he deserves and nothing more. Additionally, he argued that as a star, Durant should make an effort to educate the public on the game of basketball.

Redick strongly disagreed.

“Since when is it players’ jobs to educate people on basketball?” Redick said. “When did that become a thing? Isn’t that our job? Isn’t that our job? I view that as my job. That’s my job to educate people on basketball.

“It’s our job, Stephen A., to educate people on basketball.”

Though Redick argued it was the job of the media, he then gave an example showing fans may not want to be educated after all.

“This is the ecosystem we live in,” Redick said. “I can do a video on my podcast where I break down the last nine games the Pelicans have used Zion Williamson as the primary ball handler, and what type of actions that has led to.

“I looked it up this morning: 54,000 views on YouTube. But, I wanna call out a coach yesterday. Oh, that gets tens of millions of engagements. That’s the ecosystem we live in. So, do fans actually want to be educated or not? Do they?”

Watch above via YouTube.

The post ESPN’s JJ Redick Lashes Out After Doc Rivers Rant Goes Viral and Calls Out the Fans: Do They ‘Actually Want to Be Educated Or Not?’ first appeared on Mediaite.

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