The classic Kevin Durant is so back. After the NBA trade deadlines were gone, the Phoenix Suns superstar got right back to his work. Durant recently got into a heated exchange with his former teammate Kendrick Perkins.
Recently, during a segment on ESPN’s NBA Today, Perkins made bold claims about his role in the 2012 OKC Thunder’s NBA Finals run. The former Thunder center asserted that he was the actual leader of the team during their peak years, alongside teammate Nick Collison.
“It doesn’t mean your best player is your leader. When I was with the Thunder, it wasn’t KD, it wasn’t Russ, it wasn’t James, I was the one leading,” Perkins said on the show.
Enter Kevin Durant, the 15-time All-Star who propelled the Thunder to prominence. Durant wasted no time firing back at Perkins on social media, expressing his disbelief with the phrase. “I know this may be a reach, but this comment is by far the craziest sh*t I’ve seen this week,” Durant retweeted.
I know this may be a reach but this comment is by far the craziest shit I’ve seen this week https://t.co/kNbncZhIUH
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) February 6, 2025
Durant played his first nine seasons with the Thunder, winning an MVP award in 2014 and representing the franchise in the NBA Finals in 2012. He laid best hands in the team’s scoring during his time and dominated games that made him a crucial asset of that team. Perkins, while a valuable presence in the locker room and on the court, had a more supportive role.
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Kendrick Perkins Openly Blamed Kevin Durant For Suns Failure
The Phoenix Suns are struggling this season, and it’s clearly showing in their recent outings. However, it was not all Kevin Durant’s fault. But Kendrick Perkins thinks otherwise. Perkins has been vocal about his belief that KD’s lack of leadership contributed to the Suns’ struggles this season.
“The real story is another organization, another failure for Kevin Durant. You[KD] get a new coach. You fired Frank Vogel last year, you’ve got Mike Budenholzer, who’s a championship coach. You add the pieces and here you are,” Perkins said on NBA Today.
As the team flounders in 10th place in the Western Conference, Perkins pointed at the missed opportunities leading up to the trade deadline. In particular, Durant’s rejection of a trade back to the Golden State Warriors.
“Another organization and another failure for Kevin Durant since leaving Golden State. He was a failure with the Brooklyn Nets and a failure now. There’s no way that you have Devin Booker, Bradley Beal on the same team and your team is at .500 and you have all this turmoil.” he added.
The 2008 NBA champion argued that with stars like Devin Booker and Bradley Beal on the roster, the Suns should not be sitting at a .500 record. He emphasizes that despite the talents surrounding Durant, his failure to take charge and lead the team has resulted in another disappointing chapter in his career.
Also Read: REPORT: New Details Emerge On Why Suns Superstar Kevin Durant Denied Potential Warriors Reunion
