What to Make of Kevin Durant’s Play and Future

Kevin Durant has remained remarkably consistent amid inconsistent circumstances (Photo by Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images)

Every week, Mark Medina shares his thoughts and insights on the latest NBA topics for RG. In this installment, he gives his take on Kevin Durant’s uneven season.

Despite facing persistent double teams, injuries and turbulent rosters, Kevin Durant has stayed both consistently productive and efficient. 

Despite sparking universal praise for his elite skills and work ethic, Durant has also received criticism for his fickle alliances and for joining tailor-made super teams.  

That identity reached its apex once again during his 17th NBA season.  

Despite representing one of the lone bright spots with the Phoenix Suns for his dependable scoring, Durant became available in trade discussions with the Golden State Warriors and Miami Heat. The Suns didn’t shop Durant because of any misgivings about his play. They listened to offers because they have underachieved even with his presence.  

Some of that had to do with the Suns going 2-11 without Durant, who managed overlapping injuries to his left calf and left ankle. Most of it, however, had to do with the Suns’ roster. The Suns lacked defensive punch. They didn’t have a dependable starting center. Bradley Beal’s persistent injuries both affected his availability and his value.  

It wasn’t enough for the Suns just to deal their ineffective center (Jusuf Nurkić) and a 2026 first-round pick to the Charlotte Hornets for two rotation players (forward Cody Martin, guard Vasilije Micić). With Suns owner Mat Ishbia overseeing a $400 million payroll, Phoenix wanted to make big moves in hopes to improve its 11th place standing in the Western Conference (28-26). The Suns didn’t necessarily shop Durant. But they at least listened to and Warriors when they expressed interest. Maybe that would convince the Warriors to give up some of their assets not named Stephen Curry. It didn’t work.  

Durant has since told ESPN he expressed disinterest to the deal simply because he didn’t want to be traded midseason and wanted to stay committed to the Suns.

Durant added his reservations had nothing to do with not wanting to reunite with the Warriors after helping them to two Finals MVP performances in three Finals appearances (2017-2019). Durant clarified he also doesn’t have issues with Green, who has still reconciled enough with Durant after their infamous argument in 2019 to play together on the Tokyo Olympics team.

Inevitably, this will spark further intrigue on Durant’s future. Can the Suns save what appears will be a failed season? Assuming that happens, will Durant want to reunite with an old flame (Golden State) or connect with a developing playoff contender (Houston)? No doubt, Durant will spark more scrutiny for his continued pattern with jumping from championship contender.

Nonetheless, Durant deserves far more credit both for his stellar play and managing tough circumstances than ongoing criticism about his fluid team alliances.  

Even his critics concede that Durant has become one of the NBA’s best scorers. He has mastered every shot from midrange, in the post and even from 3. He has sliced through defenses both because of strong genetics with his lengthy frame and his sturdy fundamentals with his timely footwork. He remains in love with the craft as shown with his strong work habits both during practice and before the game. Even with missing a nearly combined two seasons with his left Achilles tendon (2019-20) and overlapping ailments since then, Durant has become only the eighth player in NBA history to eclipse 30,000 career points. 

Yet, his critics argue that Durant bears responsibility for all the chaos that has awaited him since leaving the Warriors. They wonder why he would want to play with Kyrie Irving with the Brooklyn Nets when he could’ve continued the Warriors’ dynasty with Stephen Curry. They contend that he hasn’t exerted enough leadership with the Nets and Suns. They charge that his moodiness fueled the dysfunction with both franchises

All of this criticism seems exaggerated. 

Durant didn’t obsess over becoming the Warriors’ franchise player. After receiving more critiques than validation for his large role in the Warriors’ two NBA title runs, Durant wanted to team up with a friend (Irving) and try to win elsewhere. Durant hasn’t become as vocal with his teammates as other NBA stars do both publicly and privately behind the scenes. But he shows his leadership in other ways with his disciplined work habits and his approachable nature. Durant has often talked more to both veteran and young teammates in individual conversations than giving team speeches or exerting control over the locker room. That doesn’t leave Durant blameless for Phoenix’s struggles. He has accounted for a large share of the Suns’ turnovers. He has the occasional off shooting night. Those issues pale considerably, however, both to Durant’s remarkable consistency elsewhere and the Suns’ mismanaging everything outside of their star player. 

That leaves Durant in a familiar predicament. Once again, he sparks universal praise for his stellar play, scorn for being part of a dysfunctional roster and questions on where he will want to play next.