Phoenix Suns CEO Opens Up On Relationship With Kevin Durant

Phoenix Suns CEO Josh Bartelstein provided an update on where the relationship between the team and Kevin Durant stands.

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Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Kevin Durant is dominating on the Olympic stage once again, leading Team USA as one of their leading scorers at Paris 2024. Durant will return to the Phoenix Suns in September when training camp begins, with team CEO Josh Bartelstein opening up on their relationship with the 36-year-old star. Bartlestein also shared a minor contract extension update.

“The most important thing is Kevin loves being here and we love having Kevin here… He’s focused on the Olympics, but we’re always having dialogue. The relationship is what matters the most. The relationship is in a great spot. I talk to (Durant’s agent) Rich Kleiman, who works with Kevin, all the time. Conversations are great not just on extension stuff, but on all things that have been going on.”

Durant is currently eligible for a contract extension, though that window will close on October 21. His current contract lasts until 2026, so there’s no rush to sign a new deal right now. Durant will likely not be signing a deal right now, as he will only be entitled to a one-year extension due to him being hamstrung by the over-38 rule, which restricts the additional years a player who will be above 38 can receive in an extension.

Durant averaged 27.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 5.0 assists last season, showing his consistent level of play though the Suns struggled and finished as the No 6 seed in the West. They were swept out of the first round of the Playoffs, showing the team with Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal couldn’t be contenders. 

After a summer where Durant was heavily linked with a trade to the Houston Rockets, it’ll be interesting to see if the strong offseason the Suns have had gives him more reason to commit to an extension to try and bring the Suns a title.


The Phoenix Suns Are Pushing To Contend

The team has made some strong offseason deals, headlined by signing Tyus Jones on a minimum to allay the point guard issues that have plagued the franchise. 

He was a phenomenal backup guard on the Grizzlies and has proven to be a shrewd decision-maker on-ball. He was the best-remaining free agent on the market for weeks but has taken a risky one-year minimum deal to prove his value to teams around the NBA to hit free agency again next season, where more teams are projected to have salary space.

The Suns managed to have a phenomenal NBA Draft as well, selecting Ryan Dunn and Oso Ighadaro. While Ighadaro might not be a rotational player this season, Dunn has been hailed as a win-now player who’s one of the best perimeter defenders coming out of the draft in years. His offense isn’t ready for the NBA’s pace, but he could be a valuable defensive piece when required. 

The hiring of Mike Budenholzer was arguably the first move of their championship push, with Frank Vogel being pushed out of another superteam as head coach. Coach Bud will be expected to bring fresh energy and create a winning culture to satiate the team’s stars like Booker and Durant.

It’ll be interesting to see what role Bradley Beal plays on the team this season, as he genuinely could be more impactful as a sixth man behind a Jones-Booker backcourt, but that likely won’t happen. The Suns are positioned to push for a title, but the stars will need to show up if they want to emerge as champions.

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Ishaan Bhattacharya is a content manager for Fadeaway World from New Delhi, India. With his expertise in NBA content creation, Ishaan brings a wealth of experience to his role, contributing to the site's authority and reach within the basketball community. Over the last year, Ishaan has interviewed Ray Allen and Mark Tatum, while also covering the 2023 NBA Abu Dhabi Games which saw the Dallas Mavericks take on the Minnesota Timberwolves.Since joining Fadeaway World in March 2022, Ishaan Bhattacharya has become known for his unique perspective on the NBA. He consistently delivers this insight through his daily news coverage and detailed opinion pieces on the most significant topics in the league.Before his tenure at Fadeaway World, Ishaan worked in corporate communications, where he serviced prominent sports brands, including NBA India, Sports18, Amazon Prime Sports, and Royal Challengers Bangalore. This experience in strategic communications for leading sports entities has enhanced his ability to craft impactful narratives and connect with a global audience.A true MFFLer (Mavs Fan for Life, for the uninitiated), Ishaan is a massive fan of the Dallas Mavericks. When he is not upset about Jalen Brunson walking in free agency, you can see Ishaan as an avid gamer and content creator. His passion for basketball extends beyond the Mavericks, as evidenced by his thoughtfully curated NBA Mount Rushmore, featuring LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Bill Russell—each representing distinct eras and bringing their unique qualities to the game.Featured On: ESPN, Sports Illustrated, Bleacher ReportYahoo Sports, NBA, Fox Sports, The Spun
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