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Kevin Durant is simply a two-time NBA champion, a convention MVP and arguably 1 of nan top axenic scorers of his generation.
But Durant and nan Phoenix Suns' play came to a screeching halt aft nan Minnesota Timberwolves completed a four-game sweep. The 35-year-old Durant appeared successful 75 regular-season games, nan astir he had played since nan 2018-19 season.
Durant averaged 27.1 points this season, but nan Suns did not triumph astatine nan aforesaid complaint he grew accustomed to erstwhile he was winning titles pinch nan Golden State Warriors. Despite nan disappointing extremity to nan season, Suns wide head James Jones said nan franchise remains focused connected becoming nan "first team" to find a measurement to "maximize" nan NBA superstar.
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Kevin Durant of nan Phoenix Suns during a crippled against nan Charlotte Hornets March 1, 2023, astatine Spectrum Center successful Charlotte, N.C. (Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)
"I show you, that’s a changeless attraction for america to proceed to fig retired really to maximize Kevin Durant," Jones told reporters Wednesday erstwhile asked if nan squad had successfully maximized Durant's talent during nan 2023-24 campaign.
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"No 1 has done it yet. I judge we will beryllium nan first squad to do it because if we tin maximize him, we tin maximize our full roster. We’re a amended team, but that’s not an issue. I deliberation Kevin had a phenomenal play this twelvemonth offensively. We’re a amended team, but that’s not an issue. I deliberation Kevin had a phenomenal play this twelvemonth offensively."
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Jones added that clip was simply not connected the Suns' broadside arsenic everyone attempted to get connected nan aforesaid page.
"I deliberation he had immoderate of nan champion stretches of his profession this year. So, it wasn’t an violative thing. It wasn’t a utilization aliases usage thing. It was conscionable nan totality of figuring retired erstwhile and wherever and really to do it together. We conscionable could not get connected nan aforesaid page. We ran retired of time."
Kevin Durant of nan Phoenix Suns moves nan shot during a crippled against nan Denver Nuggets April 6, 2023, astatine nan Ball Arena successful Denver, Colo. (Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
While Durant won a brace of championships pinch the Warriors and nan 2014 MVP trophy, he besides led nan convention successful scoring 4 times and was a two-time NBA Finals MVP. Durant's agelong database of individual achievements pinch erstwhile teams made Jones' caller comments somewhat perplexing.
Kevin Durant of nan Phoenix Suns during a crippled March 5, 2023, astatine nan American Airlines Center successful Dallas. (Glenn James/NBAE via Getty Images)
The 14-time NBA All-Star has not returned to nan NBA Finals since he near Golden State, but he did play good during nan Brooklyn Nets' playoff tally successful 2021. He averaged 34.3 points per crippled that postseason.
The Suns acquired Durant from nan Brooklyn Nets successful a blockbuster waste and acquisition successful February 2023. He appeared successful conscionable 8 games for Phoenix during nan 2022-23 play arsenic he dealt pinch an ankle injury.
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The Suns person ne'er won an NBA title and person not precocious past nan 2nd information of nan playoffs since Durant's presence successful nan Arizona desert.
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Chantz Martin is simply a sports writer for Fox News Digital.
