Ahead of tonight’s showdown against the Phoenix Suns, Rockets star Kevin Durant took some time to reflect on what he left behind.
Speaking candidly about last summer’s trade, he vocalized what it feels like to be facing his old team again on their home floor for the first time since the move. While Durant expressed acceptance of his new situation, he also hinted at some regret over how his old one ended.
“I’m pretty much over it. At the time, it was tough to take. A place I wanted to be. I wanted to keep building, but it’s the business of the league, and it’s the business of basketball,” said Durant, via Duane Rankin of AZ Central. “You’re not going to be in the same place all the time. It is what it is. Yeah, I was sour early on, but I think I’ve gotten over it. Time heals all. Just move on.”
Durant spent over two seasons in Phoenix, trying in vain to bring them a championship. Things started out innocently enough, but eventually grew unstable following repeated failures and increasing division in the locker room. According to Durant, he never really had a chance to make his mark.
“I wasn’t here long enough to really feel like I left a mark here, and that’s unfortunate because I want to leave marks everywhere I go, but it is what it is. Move on and appreciate the time spent, but I’m focused on where I’m at now.”
As much as Durant wanted better for his time with the Suns, both sides are better off apart. This season, without Durant, the Suns have already beaten their record from last season at 43-35 (7th in the West). While not favored to win the title, they are perceived as a real threat, and overall, in much better shape than they were during the “big three” era with KD, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal.
“They’ve been playing great ball,” Durant added, via Rankin. “I played for JO (Jordan Ott) before in Brooklyn, and I kind of understand his mentality and his mindset for the game of basketball, and him being in Cleveland and bringing that mentality here. You can see it. They crash the glass hard, they shoot a lot of 3s. They cover for each other in the paint on the defensive end. They create turnovers. That’s the sign of a team that’s been coached every day to the point where they don’t even have to talk about it or think about it. It’s like breathing to them now. They know how they want to play. They did a great job putting the team together, putting the coaching staff together.”
The Suns are thriving without Durant, and it makes you wonder what kind of impact he was having in the locker room. For someone with his experience and stature, he should be someone who brings stability and order to the scene. For the Suns, however, it was only chaos, and it’s a failure that Durant is already trying to forget.
With averages of 25.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game this season, Durant has been letting his game do all the talking in Houston, but tonight’s game is the best chance for revenge. With playoff positioning on the line for both teams, Durant can make a statement and prove the Rockets made the right decision by adding him to the fold.
