"Sometimes he talks a little s**t to me” – Kevin Durant on Dillon Brooks’ ‘evil’ reputation and trash talking

Kevin Durant isn't buying into the notion that Dillon Brooks is an "evil" player.

The 27-year-old Canadian has made a name for himself in recent months with a seemingly endless string of trash talk. The Memphis Grizzlies guard really seemed to find his voice in the absence of Ja Morant last month, with Draymond Green becoming his first notable rival.

The pair talked trash to one another midgame, as well as after the game, with Brooks trash-talking Green and the Golden State Warriors to media members. At the time, Green declined to respond. However, fans later realized that was because he wanted to address the matter on his podcast.

When he did, the Golden State veteran laughed off Brooks and the Grizzlies as legitimate rivals. However, that didn't deter Brooks from continuing to talk trash. During a recent episode of "Boardroom," Kevin Durant weighed in on his antics.

"I think he's mentally figuring out, 'Alright, this is what I want to be in this league, and I'm gonna prove it every time I step out on the floor,'" Garnett said. "Yeah, sometimes he talks a little shit to me, and I'm like, 'Yo, just chill tonight.' But I can respect that he's bringing that energy to the game every time he plays. It's not no front with him.

"You say so much little slick sh*t to each other throughout the game that it's not really a big deal when it's over with. It's just a part of the dialogue. Sometimes, you don't even know what you're sayin', it just comes out. We're just so conditioned to be on that court and compete against one another."

.@KDTrey5 on Dillon Brooks:

"[There are] so many players in the history of the game that we all love for doing the same stuff. ... I can respect it. It's not no front with him."

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🔗 boardroom.tv/the-etcs-kevin… https://t.co/XwPQibKHe4

You can see view full discussion in the video above, with Kevin Durant's comments coming shortly after the halfway point.

Will Dillon Brooks and his trash talk match up against Kevin Durant in the playoffs?

Statistically, Dillon Brooks is doing a bit more than just getting under the skin of opposing players. This season, Brooks has racked up 18 technical fouls, the most in the NBA. After 16 technical fouls, a player incurs a one-game suspension for every two technical fouls.

However, whatever it is that he and the Grizzlies are doing seems to be working, even if it does put him in danger of sitting out. Memphis (49-29) is 8-2 in its last 10 games, with a two-game lead over the Sacramento Kings (47-31), who sit in third place in a tight Western Conference race.

In fourth place sit the Phoenix Suns (43-35), meaning that Brooks and Kevin Durant could match up in the Western Conference finals. In order for that to happen, the Suns and Grizzlies would both have to hold onto fourth and second place respectively. In addition, the two teams would, of course, have to win two playoff series.

With Kevin Durant back in the lineup for the Suns, and the team riding a five-game win streak, do you think we see the Suns and rizzlies matchup in the WCF? Drop your predictions and thoughts in the comments section below.