Kevin Durant Two-time NBA champion, league MVP, and arguably one of the greatest pure scorers of his generation.
But Durant and the Phoenix Suns’ season came to an abrupt halt after minnesota timberwolves Completed a four-game sweep. The 35-year-old Durant appeared in 75 regular-season games, his most since the 2018-19 season.
Durant averaged 27.1 points this season, but the Suns couldn’t win at the rate he had become accustomed to when he was winning titles with the Golden State Warriors. Despite the disappointing end to the season, Suns general manager James Jones said the franchise is focused on becoming “the first team” to find a way to “maximize” an NBA superstar.
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Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns during a game against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center on March 1, 2023 in Charlotte, NC (Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)
When Jones was asked if the team has successfully maximized Durant’s talent during the 2023-24 campaign, he told reporters on Wednesday, “I’ll tell you, our approach on how to maximize Kevin Durant There is constant focus.”
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“No one has done that yet. I believe we’ll be the first team to do that because if we can maximize him, we can maximize our entire roster. We’re a better team, But that’s not an issue, I think Kevin had a phenomenal season offensively. Had a season.”
Jones said the time has not yet come Sun’ As everyone tried to get on the same page.
“I think he’s had some of the best moments of his career this year. So, it wasn’t an offensive thing. It wasn’t a matter of use or disuse. It was just the totality of figuring out when, where and how to do it.” Do it together. We couldn’t get on the same page.”
Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns dunks the ball during a game against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on April 6, 2023 in Denver, Colo. (Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
While Durant won a pair of championships Warrior And along with the 2014 MVP trophy, he led the league in scoring four times and was the NBA Finals MVP twice. Durant’s long list of personal accomplishments with previous teams made Jones’ recent comments somewhat confusing.
Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns during a game at American Airlines Center on March 5, 2023 in Dallas. (Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)
14 times nba all-star He hasn’t returned to the NBA Finals since leaving Golden State, but he played well during the Brooklyn Nets’ playoff run in 2021. In the postseason he averaged 34.3 points per game.
Suns acquire Durant Brooklyn Nets In a blockbuster trade in February 2023. He appeared in only eight games for Phoenix during the 2022–23 season as he battled an ankle injury.
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The Suns have never won an NBA title since Durant’s arrival in the Arizona desert and have never advanced beyond the second round of the playoffs.
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