Count Kevin Durant as one of the NBA players who is a big fan of Kobe Bryant, who recently announced his retirement from the league after the current season.

Durant stated, in an expletive-laden interview, that he’s disappointed in how the media has treated the veteran shooting guard, calling him a “legend.” He also called out the media members for the negative coverage on Bryant this season.

"I've been disappointed this year because you guys treated him like [expletive]. He's a legend and all I hear is about how bad he's playing, how bad he's shooting, time for him to hang it up. You guys treated one of our legends like [expletive] and I didn't like it,” Durant said to the Anthony Slater of The Oklahoman.

"Hopefully now you can start being nice to him now that he decided to retire after the year. It was sad the way he was getting treated.”

Durant also said that he “idolised” Bryant and that he was one of the NBA players he tried to emulate. Durant added that Bryant is his generation’s “Michael Jordan.” Bryant announced on Sunday that the 2015-2016 NBA Season would be his final year in the league.

"He had just an amazing career, a guy who changed the game for me as a player mentally and physically. Means so much to the game of basketball. Someone I'm always [going to] look to advice for anything. Just a brilliant, brilliant, intelligent man. Sad to see him go. He put his mark on the game,” Durant, who was Bryant’s teammates with the United States basketball national team, added in the interview.

The retirement of Bryant has been widely expected considering his play in the current season. The 37-year-old guard averages 15.5 points, 4.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists this year but has struggled from the field with 30.5 per cent shooting overall and 20.2 per cent shooting from behind the arc.

Bryant’s team is struggling with a 2-14 win-loss record, on pace for another lottery appearance.

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