Kevin Durant refuted the notion that players around the NBA don't want to play with Kobe Bryant.

"Excuse my language, but that's (expletive)," said Durant, who congratulated Bryant via text message after he surpassed Michael Jordan on the all-time scoring list on Sunday. "I want to play with a winner every single night, especially somebody who wants to win that bad, who works that hard, who demands a lot, who raises up your level. I'd want to play with a guy like that every day. ... (His style) may make people uncomfortable, how he acts and just how he approaches the game, but I love that type of stuff. I think (the accusation) is BS."

Durant was asked what he most admires about Bryant.

"Just his work ethic, just his demeanor man," Durant said. "He doesn't mind being an (expletive), and he comes to work man. He's intense. He demands a lot out of his teammates, and I've seen that just playing alongside him in the Olympics (in 2012). He demands a lot out of everybody. He makes them better. Everybody out on the court. You've got to respect that. As a player, I study guys like that. We might not have the same personality, but I think we approach the game the same way and I've learned a lot from just watching him."