NBA players have spent the last few days sharing their thoughts, memories and feelings for retiring legend Kobe Bryant - however Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant's tribute to the 37-year-old LA Laker was a standout.

Durant used Bryant's announcement as an opportunity to blast the media for their treatment of the Lakers' veteran, zeroing in on the rhetoric around his poor form in 2015.

When asked by The Oklahoman's Anthony Slater his first thought after hearing Bryant was hanging up his jersey, Durant responded:

"I've been disappointed this year because you guys (media) treated him like shit. 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 shit and I didn't really like it. Hopefully now you can start being nice to him now that he decided to retire after this year. It was sad the way he was getting treated. He had just an amazing career, a guy who changed the game for me as a player mentally and physically.

This isn't the first time Durant has openly called out those who cover the sport. During All-Star Weekend last year, he told reporters he was only speaking to them because he was required to, before adding, "You guys really don't know shit."