Kevin Durant finally ended up with a workforce that he once more needed to play for. He’s now with the Phoenix Suns, a workforce that’s ready-made to assist KD add one other NBA championship to his resume.
Monty Williams, the reigning Coach of the Yr, now has Durant, Devin Booker, Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton as his stars. It’s a quartet that’s greater than able to carrying the franchise to the NBA Finals.
Right here’s NBA analyst Chris Broussard on what it means if Kevin Durant can’t get out of the Western Convention:
“The Suns are completely the workforce to beat within the West. … If the Suns do not not less than win the West, in the event that they’re wholesome, that is the most important failure of Kevin Durant’s profession.”
The identical was anticipated of KD when he shaped an alliance with Kyrie Irving with the Brooklyn Nets. Expectations rose to a different degree once they shipped high quality gamers to do a blockbuster commerce for former MVP James Harden.
Durant, Harden and Irving, nonetheless, performed simply 16 video games collectively and went 13-3. Because of accidents and varied off-court dramas, KD simply couldn’t have his co-superstars constantly beside him.
The vaunted trio gained only one playoff collection once they eradicated the Boston Celtics 4-1 in 2021. Irving and Harden performed simply 4 video games, a collection later, in a seven-game collection in opposition to the eventual NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks.
One might simply argue that an inch of Kevin Durant’s foot modified the course of NBA historical past. KD practically dragged the Brooklyn Nets previous the Bucks with out two of the league’s most artistic scorers.
The next season, a totally wholesome Celtics swept the Nets, who didn’t have Ben Simmons. Boston’s bodily and unforgiving protection made Durant look outdated whereas Kyrie Irving disappeared after a incredible Recreation 1.
A few of the issues that sabotaged Durant’s much-hyped stint with the Nets have been out of his management. He hopes to play with extra dependable teammates this time round. In the event that they’re wholesome, they’re poised to make a deep run within the playoffs.
Win or lose, Kevin Durant has been ripped once more for going to a different championship-ready workforce
Kevin Durant obtained a ton of flak for leaving the OKC Thunder in the summertime of 2016. He joined the Golden State Warriors, who went 73-9 the earlier season behind Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Inexperienced.
KD promptly went to the NBA Finals with the Warriors, successful two championships within the course of. Had he and Thompson not been injured within the 2019 Finals, Durant would in all probability have had a three-peat.
Durant then left the steadiness, tradition and administration of the Bay Space workforce for the Brooklyn Nets with Kyrie Irving. It’s seen as arms down the most important mistake of his profession. The Nets’ challenge was only a whole catastrophe, one that might go down because the worst in NBA historical past.
The Phoenix Suns current one other golden alternative for Kevin Durant to win one other championship. He has repeatedly stated that he’s not a pacesetter, however he’s obtained probably the greatest in NBA historical past in Chris Paul. The Suns have dimension and size, headed by Deandre Ayton.
After which there’s Devin Booker. Durant has for a teammate maybe one of the best taking pictures guard within the league right this moment on offense. KD and Booker will deliver all types of issues for his or her opponents to unravel, significantly with the “Level God” operating the performs.
Kevin Durant will probably be underneath a ton of stress to deliver the Phoenix Suns again to the NBA Finals, one thing he couldn’t do in Brooklyn.
Ballot : Who’s your MVP choose for Tremendous Bowl LVII?
5896 votes
