NBA superstar Kevin Durant made a high-profile return to social media Monday night, using his first post following a brief hiatus to marvel at the dominance of Team USA’s newest pitching sensation, Paul Skenes.
Reacting to a masterful World Baseball Classic debut by Pittsburgh Pirates ace Paul Skenes, Durant simply tweeted: “Paul Skenes is a dawg.”
The endorsement from the 14-time All-Star came as Skenes dismantled Mexico’s lineup, propelling the United States to a 5-3 victory and a perfect 3-0 start in the tournament’s pool stages.
Skenes lived up to the immense hype in his first outing for the national team, delivering four scoreless innings while surrendering just one hit and one walk.
Skenes’ record-breaking debut
The right-hander utilized a high-velocity arsenal that touched 99.7 mph, neutralizing elite hitters like Jarren Duran and Randy Arozarena with a heavy mix of four-seam fastballs, sinkers, and splitters.
Key highlights from Skenes’ historic night include:
- 7 Strikeouts: The highest total by any United States pitcher in the last three editions of the World Baseball Classic.
- Efficiency: 60 pitches thrown over four dominant frames. Velocity: Consistently touching the triple digits to overpower the heart of the Mexico order.
With the win, the Americans have officially qualified for the knockout rounds, which are set to take place in Miami and Houston. Team USA will conclude its pool stage play against Italy on Tuesday.
Durant’s return amid controversy
Durant’s social media activity marks his first public post since the “KD Files” went viral during the 2026 NBA All-Star Weekend.
The controversy involved leaked messages from an alleged burner account that included disparaging remarks about Durant’s past and current teammates. The Rockets star, however, has remained steadfast in his refusal to engage with the drama.
“I’m not here to get into Twitter nonsense,” Durant told reporters during a recent practice. “I’m just here to focus on the season, keep it pushing. My teammates know what it is. We’ve been locked in the whole season.”
By turning his attention to the diamond, Durant appears ready to move past the “nonsense” and join the rest of the country in celebrating a new era of American pitching dominance.
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