Kevin Durant in the end ended up with a group that he once more needed to play for. He’s now with the Phoenix Suns, a group that’s ready-made to assist KD add one other NBA championship to his resume.

Monty Williams, the reigning Coach of the Yr, now has Durant, Devin Booker, Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton as his stars. It’s a quartet that’s greater than able to carrying the franchise to the NBA Finals.

Right here’s NBA analyst Chris Broussard on what it means if Kevin Durant can’t get out of the Western Convention:

“The Suns are completely the group to beat within the West. … If the Suns do not not less than win the West, in the event that they’re wholesome, that is the largest failure of Kevin Durant’s profession.”

The identical was anticipated of KD when he shaped an alliance with Kyrie Irving with the Brooklyn Nets. Expectations rose to a different stage after they shipped high quality gamers to do a blockbuster commerce for former MVP James Harden.

Durant, Harden and Irving, nonetheless, performed simply 16 video games collectively and went 13-3. Because of accidents and varied off-court dramas, KD simply couldn’t have his co-superstars constantly beside him.

The vaunted trio received only one playoff sequence after they eradicated the Boston Celtics 4-1 in 2021. Irving and Harden performed simply 4 video games, a sequence later, in a seven-game sequence towards the eventual NBA champion Milwaukee Bucks.

One may simply argue that an inch of Kevin Durant’s foot modified the course of NBA historical past. KD practically dragged the Brooklyn Nets previous the Bucks with out two of the league’s most artistic scorers.

The next season, a totally wholesome Celtics swept the Nets, who didn’t have Ben Simmons. Boston’s bodily and unforgiving protection made Durant look previous whereas Kyrie Irving disappeared after a improbable Sport 1.

Among the issues that sabotaged Durant’s much-hyped stint with the Nets had been out of his management. He hopes to play with extra dependable teammates this time round. In the event that they’re wholesome, they’re poised to make a deep run within the playoffs.

Win or lose, Kevin Durant has been ripped once more for going to a different championship-ready group

Kevin Durant acquired a ton of flak for leaving the OKC Thunder in the summertime of 2016. He joined the Golden State Warriors, who went 73-9 the earlier season behind Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Inexperienced.

KD promptly went to the NBA Finals with the Warriors, profitable two championships within the course of. Had he and Thompson not been injured within the 2019 Finals, Durant would most likely have had a three-peat.

Durant then left the soundness, tradition and administration of the Bay Space group for the Brooklyn Nets with Kyrie Irving. It’s seen as arms down the largest mistake of his profession. The Nets’ challenge was only a complete catastrophe, one that might go down because the worst in NBA historical past.

The Phoenix Suns current one other golden alternative for Kevin Durant to win one other championship. He has repeatedly stated that he’s not a frontrunner, however he’s acquired top-of-the-line in NBA historical past in Chris Paul. The Suns have dimension and size, headed by Deandre Ayton.

After which there’s Devin Booker. Durant has for a teammate maybe one of the best capturing guard within the league right now on offense. KD and Booker will carry all kinds of issues for his or her opponents to unravel, significantly with the “Level God” working the performs.

Kevin Durant shall be beneath a ton of stress to carry the Phoenix Suns again to the NBA Finals, one thing he couldn’t do in Brooklyn.