Kevin Durant, Phil Jackson Spar Before Playoff Series

Kevin Durant, Phil Jackson Spar Before Playoff Series

UPDATE: Jackson has been fined $35,000 for his comments.

EARLIER:

Kevin Durant and Lakers coach Phil Jackson find themselves in a kerfuffle just days before their teams square off in the NBA Playoffs. On Tuesday, Jackson seemed to attribute much of Durant's success to an ability to work the refs, rather than pure basketball skills. "Yeah, by the calls he gets, he really gets to the line a lot, I'll tell ya," he said. "He really has a reputation as one of the hot points in the league."

Durant, who just yesterday became the youngest NBA scoring champion in the history of the league, is unhappy with the characterization. The 21-year-old Sonics-turned-Thunder small forward said Jackson's comments are "taking away from what I do." He told Darnell Mayberry of the Oklahoman that while he "respect[s] Phil Jackson," the coach's words are "disrespectful to me."

Two weeks ago, Celtics big man Kevin Garnett dropped an F-bomb after complaining that Durant got too many calls. The Lakers and Thunder open their first-round playoff series on Sunday.

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