Kevin Durant has an impressive resume that includes an NBA MVP award and multiple NBA Finals MVP nominations, but Phoenix Suns general manager James Jones believes the 35-year-old superstar is capable of much more. I believe that.
Addressing local media in Phoenix on Wednesday, Jones explained how the Suns will focus on getting the most out of Durant going forward, before saying he believes the Suns can be the first team to do so. He boldly claimed that
“Our focus is always on how do we continue to find Kevin Durant and get the most out of him,” Jones told reporters. “No one has done it yet. I believe we will be the first team to do it.” (h/t Duane Rankin of azcentral)
The Point Forward podcast, co-hosted by Durant's former Warriors teammate Andre Iguodala, appeared to applaud Jones' comments in a post on SiteX, formerly known as Twitter.
Jones' comments are highly controversial considering the heights Durant reached during his time with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Golden State well before his current stint in the Arizona desert.
Durant averaged 32.0 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game for the Thunder, leading the NBA in scoring with four points in five seasons from 2009-10 to 2013-14, and was named home MVP in 2014. . While Durant had a lot of individual success in Oklahoma City, he didn't win an NBA championship until joining Golden State in July 2016.
The prolific scorer joined the Warriors shortly after a disappointing loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Finals and is credited with quickly transforming Golden State from an elite team to one of the best in league history.
Durant averaged 35.2 points per game on 55.6 percent shooting in the 2017 NBA Finals, earning Finals MVP honors and the championship that had eluded him for the first nine years of his pro career.
The 16-time All-Star of the Warriors won the Finals MVP for the second consecutive year in 2018 when the Warriors overwhelmingly defeated the Cavaliers, averaging 28.8 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game. achieved. back championship.
Durant hasn't won another NBA title since leaving Golden State, but he had a dominant playoff performance with the Brooklyn Nets in 2021, winning one game in 12 postseason appearances in 2020-21. He averaged 34.3 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 4.4 assists.
While Durant has won nearly every individual award in the NBA, he also boasts team success in contributing to multiple Larry O'Brien trophies, and has been relatively successful since the superstar arrived in Phoenix in 2022. Jones' comments are even more puzzling given his lack of success.
Since Durant's arrival, the Suns have failed to advance past the second round of the playoffs, most recently being swept by the Minnesota Timberwolves despite entering the 2023-24 NBA season with high expectations.
Given Durant's age and the incredible heights he's already reached, I don't see a scenario in which Phoenix could unleash something the 16-time All-Star has yet to achieve in his illustrious career. It's hard to imagine.
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