Life has not been easy for Kevin Durant since joining the Phoenix Suns last season. But even amid all the ups and downs, Durant is still setting the example for his teammates and his selfless humility is what separates him from others at his level.
"He doesn’t think of himself higher, above anybody else," said Bradley Beal. "He could be an a--hole. He could be, ‘I’m Year 17 in, got 2 rings, MVP.’ He could be like that if he wanted to, but he’s not. That separates him from a lot of guys.”
Durant has tried his best to keep his focus on basketball this season and he's gone out of his way to avoid getting caught up in any distractions. But as the Suns continue to skate the line of mediocrity, it's getting harder and harder for Durant to ignore the noise and the pressure is higher than ever for him to deliver in the playoffs. But do the Suns have enough to make a meaningful run, or will they flame out again when the lights are brightest?
Kevin Durant Is On Fire
On a Suns team that has been hamstrung with injuries all season long, Kevin Durant has been their constant force throughout. This season, through 34 games, he's averaging 28.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game on 52.5% shooting. He's fifth in all scorers this season, only behind Joel Embiid, Luka Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. At 35 years old, there are questions about how long Durant can keep going like this but he's showing no signs of slowing down right now and is on track for one of his best seasons yet in modern times.
Unfortunately for the Suns star, there are also some doubts about his leadership following an ugly tenure with the Nets. After joining forces with Kyrie Irving, and watching the whole thing devolve into chaos, Durant jumped ship at the first chance he got and now he's got to make amends for that by winning a title and remaining the world of who he is. Hovering at .500 on the season, the Suns are in no position to flex right now but only a fool would count them out while they still have a chance.
What's Wrong With The Suns?
Durant's play doesn't hide the fact that the Suns have been among the most disappointing teams this season. After assembling the big three over the summer with Durant, Booker, and Bradley Beal, Phoenix was expecting to compete for the top seed in the West. Instead, they are a borderline play-in team with no signs of getting better. Besides poor health and weak chemistry, the Suns can blame an inconsistent support cast for some of their shortcomings.
In acquiring their superstars, the Suns had to sacrifice much of their depth and guys like Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson (who were crucial to their title run) were traded and swapped for mid/low-level role-players like Jusuf Nurkic and Grayson Allen. The result on the court has been a majorly inconsistent ball club that relies too heavily on Kevin Durant and Devin Booker to bail them out. Whether it's at the deadline or this upcoming summer, expect the Suns and their committed new owner, Mat Ishbia, to pull all the stops in ensuring this team is one that can mark their place in history.
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