After Kevin Durant signed for the Phoenix Suns in February 2023, the hoop enthusiasts anticipated a major turnaround for the 2-time NBA Finals MVP. With Bradley Beal’s inclusion last summer, the Suns’ Big 3 of Durant, Beal and Devin Booker were destined for a championship; that’s what a lot of pundits believed. But fast-forward to the 2024 playoffs and the Suns are nowhere to be found after a first-round sweep by the Timberwolves.
With the loss to the Minnesota side, a lot of questions were raised regarding KD’s future with the franchise. As Frank Vogel became the latest sacrificial piece in the aftermath of playoff elimination, it puts a huge question mark on Durant’s legacy. On ESPN’s latest episode of “Get Up”, Zach Lowe touched on the matter and explained why he thinks it went wrong for Durant’s career. “He’s never going to get the credit that those accomplishments would normally bestow on him because of how good the team was. I think he’s realized that,” said the analyst.
He believes Durant’s move to the Golden State Warriors was a regrettable decision and his contribution to their championship run will never get the credit they deserve because of how good the team was. Lowe also reflected on how the HC firing spree of the Suns and his former team, the Nets, is affecting Durant’s undeniable legacy.
Kevin Durant’s “The Slim Reaper” moniker has slowly turned into a grim reaper one for the HCs and Kendrick Perkins recently expressed that he is a firm believer in that theory.
Kevin Durant Gets Blamed for Frank Vogel Firing
With the playoffs moving on from round one to two, the HCs of the fallen teams are finding themselves under increased pressure. The glass certainly shattered due to the pressure on Darvin Ham of the Lakers, and on Thursday Frank Vogel saw the same happening to him.
Kendrick Perkins showed his sympathy for the dismissed HC and aimed his crosshair at Kevin Durant. During a recent episode of Sports Center, Perks said, “I’m exhausted dealing with a lot of these soft cupcake players that lack accountability. Over this past season, we’ve witnessed Adrian Griffin get fired … Darvin Ham got fired … And now Frank Vogel gets fired after his first season. All because a two-time NBA champion, two-time finals MVP in Kevin Durant wasn’t speaking to the man and listening to Frank Vogel for the last three months.”
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There were reports about Kevin Durant not feeling comfortable in the Suns’ set-up and a possible rift with the HC. But with the former NBA championship-winning coach gone, what does it mean for Durant? For now, there’s no certain answer as his focus is firmly fixated on the 2024 Paris Olympics and only after that, there can potentially be a clear indication of where the 2-time NBA champion will land.
Also Read: Kendrick Perkins Calls for LeBron James to Retire, Says Continuing to Play Will Hurt His Legacy
