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Typically, NBA players will always appreciate and respect one another. That statement applies to Phoenix Suns’ Kevin Durant and Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers.
After Durant made another All-Star game, he has no signs of slowing down. Not to mention, he recently won the Western Conference Player of the Week for his efforts.
Nonetheless, when speaking to reporters before the game, Rivers detailed during his pregame press conference what makes Durant so great at his age.
I asked Doc Rivers, who has coached against Kevin Durant since 2007, about KD still growing parts of his game at age 36
“He’s improved his 3-point shooting this year. I think we always believed he could do that, he just preferred the in-between game more.” pic.twitter.com/FuytThMU3b
— Shane Young (@YoungNBA) March 25, 2025
“Well, he’s improving his three-point shooting this year,” Rivers said. I think we’ve always believed he could do that. He just preferred the in-between game more, and I think Bud (Mike Budenholzer) has done a good job of getting them to mix it up more.
“He’s progressed through his career. I mean, it’s amazing, the ages they are, and they’re still working on their game, they’re still trying to add to their game. It just tells you how much they love the game.”
Even with an Achilles injury, many thought that he was done. However, Durant has been anything but. After the Suns landed Durant in a blockbuster trade, it shook the NBA world.
While there hasn’t been an NBA Finals or conference finals appearance, it doesn’t discredit his impact and skill. So far with Phoenix, he is averaging the highest three-point percentage of his career (42.1%).
Doc Rivers loves what Suns’ Kevin Durant is doing
It’s not only Durant who is excelling at his age. One of the most notable superstars is LeBron James. The latter recently eclipsed 50,000 total career points (regular season and the playoffs).
As Rivers mentioned, he said it’s amazing that guys are that dedicated to the game. Plenty of Durant’s teammates and coaches will say the same thing.
He is a bonafide gym rat who truly loves the game of basketball. Even in the 2024-25 season, he continued to make history. For example, Durant surpassed the 30,000 point mark in front of the Suns faithful.
Both teams are aiming to solidify their spots in the playoffs. For Milwaukee, they will hope to secure a four or five seed. The recent struggle hasn’t helped in the slightest.
On the flip side, the Suns needed to defeat the Dallas Mavericks earlier in March and did just that. However, they will need some good luck on their side.
If Phoenix finishes the season with the same record than Dallas, then they are in the play-in. With the toughest remaining schedule in the league though, matters are more difficult.
Either way, Durant will continue to do his thing as he has all season, barring any injury. Coaches across the league, and even players alike, will admire his brilliance and longevity.
More must-reads:
- Nikola Jokic’s agent sparks LeBron James to Denver speculation with Instagram post
- Warriors still positioning themselves for Giannis Antetokounmpo blockbuster
- The 'NBA Summer League MVPs' quiz
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TODAY'S BEST
LA Lakers make final call on LeBron James’ future, reports NBA insider
The LA Lakers appear to be in agreement about what comes next with LeBron James. LeBron has been a major figure for the Lakers ever since he arrived, stepping into the spotlight just two years after Kobe Bryant retired and quickly taking on the role of franchise leader. It didn’t take long for him to make an impact. Within two years, LeBron helped turn things around, leading them from lottery struggles to an NBA title. While the seasons that followed have been mixed, he’s remained a steady presence throughout. But things have shifted since Luka Doncic joined in February. It’s clear now that Doncic is the new focal point of the team. That’s not surprising given Doncic’s talent and age. The club has every reason to build around him for the future. As for LeBron, he picked up his $52.6 million player option for next season, but beyond that, it’s unclear what his future holds with LA. LA Lakers are open to letting LeBron James leave in free agency Marc Stein has published a detailed report looking at what’s next for LeBron James, and when it comes to his time with the Lakers, he believes this season will be his last. Stein went on to say that LeBron is expected to leave the Lakers in free agency. Given the franchise’s forward-looking approach, both James and his camp are well aware of this. “I think he knows, deep down, that the threat of him leaving Lakerland next summer is no threat at all now. “It was a worry for every team he played for through the first 22 seasons of his career, but the Lakers’ widely presumed preferred scenario for their future is letting James’ contract drop off their books after the 2025-26 season. “Paul’s statement upon announcing the player option decision, which is featured in full further down, essentially hints at this understanding if you read it carefully.” LeBron James expected to stay with Lakers for the season Stein also mentioned that James is expected to remain with the Lakers for now. There haven’t been any trade or buyout requests from James, and that doesn’t look like it will change. “I believe that, as August draws near, LeBron is going to be at his eighth Lakers training camp in a row come late September, which would represent the longest continuous stretch with one team in his Longevity GOAT career. “He has not asked for a trade this offseason, he has not asked for a buyout. He also surely knows that asking for one or the other doesn’t automatically ensure that either scenario will materialize. “I believe that forecast is the right one because James understands the dynamics of this league as well as any player ever has.” If this season does turn out to be LeBron’s final chapter with the Lakers, he’ll be looking to go out on a high note. Teaming up with Luka Doncic gives them a real shot at making a strong playoff run.
Yankees add needed infielder in trade with Nationals
The New York Yankees had been on the search for a right-handed hitting infielder. They found their man late Saturday night. Jack Curry from YES Network reported that the Yankees acquired infielder Amed Rosario from the Nationals. In exchange, the Yankees are sending pitcher Clayton Beeter and minor league outfielder Browm Martinez to Washington. The Yankees had been looking for a right-handed hitting infielder in the wake of acquiring third baseman Ryan McMahon on Friday. Rosario is exactly the type of player the Yankees had sought - a solid option capable of playing second and third. He had posted a .270/.310/.426 batting line in 158 plate appearances entering Saturday, hitting five homers and eight doubles. Rosario's greatest attribute for the Yankees is his ability to hit left-handed pitching. He has a .299/.333/.483 batting line in 99 plate appearances against lefties this season, with three homers and seven doubles. He and McMahon should form a solid platoon at the hot corner in New York. However, the Yankees paid a steep price to bring Rosario on board for the next several months. Beeter had been ranked as the Yankees' 20th-best prospect per MLB.com, with his upper-90s fastball and wipeout slider both considered plus offerings. He has operated strictly as a reliever this season, where both his ability to miss bats and questionable command have been apparent. Martinez had been considered a player to watch heading into the season by FanGraphs, citing his solid contact rates and projectability. The 18-year-old is years away from making an impact, but has posted an impressive .404/.507/.632 batting line in 69 plate appearances in the Dominican Summer League, hitting three homers and four doubles while stealing 13 bases. His ability to make contact has been impressive, as Martinez has drawn six walks with just eight strikeouts this season. A promotion stateside could be in the cards before the end of the year.
Browns make curious decision with rookie QB Shedeur Sanders
The Cleveland Browns are giving Shedeur Sanders special treatment in training camp, but it's not the type of favoritism the fifth-round pick would necessarily want. Per Daniel Oyefusi of ESPN, Sanders is the only Browns quarterback who has not been taking reps with the first-team offense during OTAs or the first two practices of training camp. Former Pittsburgh Steelers first-round pick Kenny Pickett, veteran Joe Flacco and rookie Dillon Gabriel have all split reps with the first team. Despite being asked to throw passes to members of the equipment staff amid a shortage of professional pass-catchers for a four-quarterback roster, Sanders said he's thankful for the opportunity to show the Browns coaching staff his talents. "I feel like that it's not in my control, so I'm not going to think about that or even have that in my thought process of why it is," Sanders said to a question as to why he's not getting first-team reps. "There's a lot of people who want to have the opportunity to be at this level, and I'm here and I'm thankful to have the opportunity. So, whenever that is, that is." Sanders, 23, believes that he can contribute more to the Browns than what the coaching staff is asking of him. "It doesn't make me feel down or left out because I know who I am as a person," Sanders said. "I know who I am as an individual and I know what I could bring to this team. So, I can never feel less than any circumstance." The Browns selected Sanders with the No. 144 pick in April's draft. As a player whom many draft analysts thought was a first-round talent, Cleveland took what could be the steal of the draft in the fifth round. It's curious why the Browns aren't giving Sanders a shot with the first team early in training camp before the quarterback race becomes more serious. Cleveland should see what Sanders has to offer this summer. Flacco, 40, isn't a long-term solution at the position. Pickett failed in Pittsburgh. The Browns need to gauge what rookies Gabriel and Sanders can do with the first team. Having Sanders throw balls to the equipment staff is a waste of everyone's time. But then again, Cleveland has wasted plenty of quarterbacks.
Cowboys fans send animated two-word message to Jerry Jones
Dallas Cowboys fans appear to have one thing on their mind during training camp, and they made sure to let team owner Jerry Jones know about it on Saturday. Hundreds of Cowboys fans showed up to the team's annual "Opening Day Ceremony" on Saturday in Oxnard, California. Jones addressed the crowd, and the 82-year-old was greeted with a lot of restless supporters when he took the microphone. As Jones began talking about how disappointed he was with his team's 7-10 season last year, many fans shouted the same two-word message: "Pay Micah!" The fans eventually settled enough for Jones to urge them to take note of all the changes the Cowboys have made this offseason. "I was shocked last year when we ended up with the record that we had. I never saw that coming. I want you to know, and I want you to look for as you watch practices this week, I want you to watch what we've done in the areas that we needed to work on," Jones said. "Look at what we've done in this offensive line. Look at what we've done, if you will, with our receiver cops. Look at what we're doing with our defense. A lot of changes out here -- a lot of coaching changes, a lot of player changes." Parsons is set to make $24M in the final year of his rookie contract this season. He is undoubtedly seeking to become the highest-paid defensive player in football, which would mean topping the $41M per year T.J. Watt recently got with his new deal from the Pittsburgh Steelers. Parsons had 12 or more sacks in each of his first four NFL seasons. Jones has hinted that he is playing hardball with the star linebacker in contract negotiations, and Cowboys fans do not seem to appreciate it.
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