While speaking to the press, Kevin Durant addressed the rumors surrounding the ‘toxic’ Phoenix Suns locker room. Last week, Ramona Shelburne alleged that the Suns locker room is a toxic environment.
Durant responded by saying that people who aren’t in the locker room wouldn’t understand how they operate. He added by saying that the locker room is really focused before a game, which might give the impression that they aren’t the most welcoming group of people.
“Yeah, I heard Ramona Shelburne come out and say our locker room is toxic. I try to tell people who aren’t around this game much is that it’s easy to say our locker room is not connected when you come in there 45 minutes before and guys are in their game mode and not talking to each other.”
“Four or five guys might be in the training room, a few guys might be in the weight room. it’s not a welcoming environment right before the game. That’s part of getting ready to play. I think it’s unfair and lazy to categorize our team as toxic when you come in there for five minutes throughout four months.”
“That’s the only time you’ve been in our locker room and then you can make a narrative? I don’t think that’s fair to us, but like I said, that’s a part of the game. Part of the business we signed up for. Shit is not fair in this game, but we got to deal with it and accept it.”
Durant’s comments come in the wake of the Phoenix Suns being quite inactive at the trade deadline, despite being rumored to be one of the team’s most rumored to be active during the period. Their roster has underdelivered despite having one of the most acclaimed trios in the NBA in Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal.
Suns Couldn’t Move Bradley Beal
The big issue for the Phoenix Suns ended up being their inability to move Bradley Beal. Beal has a no-trade clause in his contract, which allows him to have power over the franchise and his future. Beal was reportedly willing to waive his no-trade clause, but only if he was getting a move to a competitive team in a warm-weather city.
The Suns wanted to use Beal’s contract to land Jimmy Butler, but the Miami Heat didn’t want Beal in return. This made any three-team or four-team trade impossible, as no other franchise would be eligible under Beal’s demands, and the ones that were had no interest in him.
The Suns eventually gave up and tried trading Kevin Durant, even fielding offers for him in the final days before the trade deadline. The Golden State Warriors, whom Durant played three seasons with, inquired about the All-Star. However, Durant turned down the chance to go to the Warriors due to the nature of his exit and his turbulent relationship with Draymond Green.
As a result, he chose to stay in Phoenix. Durant is a free agent in 2026, and he might choose to play the field rather than stick it out in Phoenix long-term, as his championship window will be nearing its end by that point.
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