Kevin Durant has never backed off from any of the fierce opponents he faced in his career. He became the 10th player to surpass the 28,000 career points earlier this year. Be it playing for the Oklahoma City Thunder or the Phoenix Suns, KD had one of the game’s best come face-to-face.
Durant recently discussed his approach to playing against basketball legends like LeBron James and Stephen Curry in a recent chat with ESPN. He made it clear that it’s a matter of survival when he steps onto the court. He knows that there’s no room for friendships during the heat of competition. The stakes are simply too high.
“It’s a dog-eat-dog world in the NBA. Don’t want nobody to take anything that you got. You have to build up that dislike. Not in a bad way but when you’re on the floor, you can’t be friends. You can’t be cool with these guys. You can’t admire them,” Durant said.
"Out on the floor, you can't be friends." 😤
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) December 24, 2024
Kevin Durant on how he approaches playing against LeBron James, Steph Curry and other NBA stars 🔥 pic.twitter.com/3zgwUbHLOF
"Out on the floor, you can’t be friends." 😤
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) December 24, 2024
Kevin Durant on how he approaches playing against LeBron James, Steph Curry and other NBA stars 🔥 pic.twitter.com/3zgwUbHLOF
After years of clashing with some of the best players in the game, like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic, Durant understands what it means to face off against greatness. As a 14-time All-Star and two-time NBA champion, he’s seen numerous challenges and knows how crucial it is to maintain that edge.
As Durant leads the Phoenix Suns, he’s delivering stellar performances, averaging 27.0 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game. However, with the Suns currently sitting at a 14-14 record, it’s apparent that they still have some issues to iron out as a team. But Durant’s relentless drive and killer instinct keep the hope alive.
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Kevin Durant Faces Struggle In His NBA Championship Quest
As the Suns gear up for crucial matchups like the one on Christmas Day against the Denver Nuggets, Durant will play a crucial role. His mindset of viewing opponents as rivals instead of friends will be at play against the Nuggets.
However, Kevin Durant’s quest for an NBA championship with the Suns faces a tough challenge, and it all comes down to defense. While there’s no arguing with Durant’s scoring brilliance, he can score from almost anywhere on the court. But his team’s defensive woes are hard to ignore.
Quick throwback to Otto Porter Jr. absolutely COOKING the Phoenix Suns on Christmas Day🔥
— TheWarriorsHouse (@GSWarriorsHouse) December 24, 2024
pic.twitter.com/50y0WH31LU
Quick throwback to Otto Porter Jr. absolutely COOKING the Phoenix Suns on Christmas Day🔥
— TheWarriorsHouse (@GSWarriorsHouse) December 24, 2024
pic.twitter.com/50y0WH31LU
The Suns currently rank a concerning 24th in defensive rating, and that’s a problem. Injuries to key players like Devin Booker and Bradley Beal have further complicated matters. And they are left with the team struggling to find its rhythm. These issues became glaringly evident during the 2023 playoffs, where the Nuggets eliminated them.
What’s especially concerning is how history has a way of repeating itself. The Suns are partnering their star power with a similar setup to the 2020-2021 Brooklyn Nets. Right now, the Suns are sitting at 11th in the tightly contested Western Conference, and they need to shake things up to climb the ranks.
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