Report: Kevin Durant currently frustrated with Phoenix Suns
After recording seven straight wins for an 11-6 start, the Phoenix Suns have lost nine of their last 13 games, and Kevin Durant appears to be disgruntled.
Adrian Wojnarowski reported on NBA Countdown on ESPN that Durant is frustrated with the Suns’ supporting cast and Bradley Beal‘s health. The Suns have been mediocre at best dealing with injuries to two of their best players.
Devin Booker and Beal both have struggled with injuries this season. Booker has missed nine games while Beal has missed all but six games through 30 games. The Suns are 15-15 and are at the tail-end of the play-in race; something needs to change soon If they are to make a playoff run.
Durant, 35, wants to be in a win-now situation. Unfortunately for Durant, there is no such thing in the NBA. The reigning NBA champion Denver Nuggets won their first championship because of a strong supporting cast. They drafted and traded for strong role players that fit around their superstar, Nikola Jokic.
Durant’s supporting cast is up and down in their play this season. It consists of Jusuf Nurkic, Grayson Allen, Eric Gordon and Yuta Watanabe, among others. Allen and Gordon average 13.1 and 13.8 points per game, respectively; Nurkic tallies 12.0 points while Watanabe averages 4.3.
The problem is that with Beal injured they’re struggling to score in addition to defense and turnovers; Durant is averaging 3.6 turnovers per game, and Booker averages three. Durant’s cast needs to become more consistent and Durant needs to watch out for his turnovers for this team to become serious.
Durant asked to be put in this situation when he requested a trade from the Nets to the Suns. When Durant was traded in 2023, he knew what he was getting himself into, he understood his help would be shallow and that would get even more shallow when the Beal trade happened.
However, the star is playing his best out on the court. He’s averaging 30.2 points and 46.7 percent from 3-point range. We still have yet to see the true potential of the Durant, Booker and Beal trio, but if Beal can stay healthy, this team might be dangerous.
