Kevin Durant praises Bucs' Giovani Bernard for handling reporters after awkward exchange

Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant praised Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Giovani Bernard for handling his awkward exchange with two media reporters ‘like a real pro’ after being questioned on a fake punt in Sunday’s 34-23 loss at Cincinnati Bengals.

A clip of the NFL player has gone viral on social media after he stood up to talk to reporters after what appeared to be an argument between the two parties.

“Entitlement in this world has gone to another level,” Durant said on social media. ‘The media believe they are responsible for the game’s popularity.’

The two-time NBA champion responded to a fan who tweeted that ‘these reporters are full of themselves.’

Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant applauds Bucs running back Giovani Bernard after he stood up for himself against reporters following Sunday’s 34-23 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals

Bernard originally didn’t want to ask questions about a fake punt attempt he faced in the third quarter of Sunday’s game

After taking a 17-3 halftime lead Sunday, the Bucs suffered five straight turnovers in a second-half nightmare to snap their streak this month after being swept by the San Francisco 49ers last week (7- 35).

Unfortunately for Bernard, things started to go downhill for Tampa Bay in the third quarter after he broke up a fake punt on fourth-and-1 with 13:34 left on the clock.

The running back was unable to get a firm grip on the football and had to quickly come down on the loose ball for a two-yard loss at the Tampa Bay 16-yard line. The Bucs held the Bengals to one field goal and still led 17-6 after that error. However, Bernard’s mistake started a series of mistakes that allowed the Bengals to get back into the game and outscore the Bucs 17-0 in the third quarter to take a 20-17 lead.

Cincinnati would go on to outscore its opponent, 31-6 in the second half.

Bernard’s Sunday didn’t seem to improve after the game when he tried to leave the Bucs locker room without taking any questions from reporters. When approached, a feeling of tension followed.

The 31-year-old even dared to ask reporters why they wanted to speak to him when they rarely asked for his comments this season.

At one point, a reporter can be heard asking: ‘What have you done for us to talk to you about all year?’

Bernard has featured in just five games for the Bucs this season due to an ankle injury and ESPN’s Jenna Laine can be heard telling the player: ‘You’ve been injured all year!’

‘Can I go to my family that I have outside?’ Bernard asked.

‘You can do it. Just don’t say we haven’t talked to you all year,’ replied another reporter.

Bernard, 31, has appeared in just five games for the Bucs this season due to an ankle injury.

Moving on from the awkward exchange, Bernard asked the question but gave the same answer over and over again when asked about his concern over the fake punt attempt.

‘Miscommunication, that’s all I got,’ the former Bengals running back said. ‘It was really my fault.’

‘It was all me,’ he added when asked about his awareness of the play and if the team had ever practiced it before.

Bucs coach Todd Bowles confirmed that the team did not execute his idea as planned.

‘He missed the ball,’ said the 59-year-old. ‘Yes, we need a yard. It’s ours. We practiced it all week. We just don’t hold the football.’

The Bucs are now 6-8 after Sunday’s loss but still lead the NFC South despite being below .500. Tampa Bay next plays the Arizona Cardinals on Christmas Day.