The Phoenix Suns have plenty of thinking to do. Their high-risk moves over the past two seasons failed to bear fruit as they made another early playoff exit. They crashed and burned in the first round as Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves were able to take them down in four straight games.
Kevin Durant is among the players on the Suns roster who would have to think especially hard about his next move. He’s desperate to cement his legacy by winning a championship without the help of the Golden State Warriors, but time may be running out for the mercurial scorer.
While his future is still in doubt, he did have some choice words to say about the young superstar who just took his team down.
Kevin Durant calls Anthony Edwards his favorite player after his Phoenix Suns were swept
Durant fielded questions after the Timberwolves took down his Suns in the series’ final game, 122-116 . Durant and Devin Booker did everything they could to extend the series through their scoring prowess, but they couldn’t keep up with the incredible offense Edwards and the Timberwolves are showing.
The media asked him about his thoughts on Edwards, who put up an incredible 40-point performance against his team. He didn’t hesitate to shower praise on the young man, even calling him his favorite player at the moment.
“So impressed with Ant,” the 35-year-old said. “My favorite player to watch. [He’s] grown so much since he came into the league at 22, just his love for the game just shines bright.”
He further explained what makes Edwards such a fun player to watch.
“He just loves basketball, he’s grateful to be in this position,” he explained. “He’s taken advantage of every opportunity he’s gotten, love everything about Ant.”
To see Durant paint someone like Edwards in such a light is surprisingly wholesome. However, it should have been expected after the type of response the Slim Reaper gave during Ant-Man’s Game 3 shenanigans.
Will Kevin Durant leave the Phoenix Suns in his ring chase?
The Suns gave up a lot to build the team they have at the moment. They orchestrated a huge trade to acquire Beal from the Washington Wizards. While Beal was a great acquisition for the Suns, it left the front office with almost nothing when it came to building a solid squad.
This issue reared its ugly head in the postseason. Only Durant, Beal, and Devin Booker scored more than ten points a game for the Suns. With no other source for the offense, it became easier for the Timberwolves to contain them.
If Stephen A. Smith is to be believed, Kevin Durant will not settle for a disappointing tail-end to his career. Unless the Suns figured out a game plan to instantly bolster the roster, Durant leaving for another team in the offseason is not out of the realm of possibilities.
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