Charlotte, NC — New team, same Kevin Durant.
Durant’s era in Phoenix made 13 NBA All-Star appearances Wednesday night, scoring 23 points on 10-of-15 shooting, adding explosive offensive elements to an already dangerous offense in his Suns debut. and got off to a solid start.
Durant, who played for his fourth team in the last seven seasons, added six rebounds and two blocks as the Phoenix beat the Charlotte Hornets 105-91.
“I’ve played nearly 1,000 basketball games and I was nervous today,” Durant said. I want to be able to coach. So I was thinking about that today.”
Despite his success, Durant feels he has something to prove to his teammates and coaches.New team, same Kevin Durant.
“I put pressure on myself and myself every day,” Durant said.
Devin Booker seemed to prey on Durant, scoring 37 points in the win.
“He’s a pure basketball player,” Durant said of Booker.
Durant was limited to 27 minutes while he was released from a knee injury that has been out of action since Jan. 8 and he is under playing time restrictions.
Wearing number 35, Durant was greeted with thunderous applause when he was introduced at the Spectrum Center. Fans grabbed their phones and were nervous to record a video of him in the white jersey.
He missed a foul line jumper on the team’s first possession, but scored the first basket against the Suns on a left-handed layup minutes later. Durant never surrendered as he blocked Hornets rookie center Mark Williams and knocked down a 3-pointer from the left to give Phoenix a 9-0 lead.
He was not perfect on returns, turning the ball over twice, including when he dribbled his own foot while driving left.
Suns coach Monty Williams said, “We wrote a lot of scripts in practice, but on the floor it’s completely different. “So there were some issues with the plays we were executing and things like that. But it’s pretty cool to give a player the ball and be able to get in the spot and hit a really good shot.”
The 13-time All-Star was acquired from the Brooklyn Nets in a blockbuster deal that sees the Suns part ways with Michal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder and four first-round picks. Last of the 3 traded to Brooklyn, behind James Harden and Kyrie Irving.
As with Durant’s previous visits in Seattle, Oklahoma City, Golden State and Brooklyn, expectations are high and there’s a different level of excitement about his arrival.
“You feel it,” Williams said. “You feel people lining up outside at[the team’s]hotel. You feel it at the gym. , I learned that I must accept them.
Williams admitted that anything other than an NBA championship this season would feel like a disappointment, but that’s true of all of the league’s top teams.
Durant has been through a lot in his 15-year NBA career, but this is the first time he’s joined a new team mid-season.
The Suns hope the addition of Durant will overcome their difficulties after losing to the Milwaukee Bucks in six games in the 2021 NBA Finals.
The Suns (34-29) are fourth in the Western Conference.
Williams hopes Durant will have a big positive impact on his new teammates, including Booker, Chris Paul and DeAndre Ayton.
“He’s a generational talent, a historic talent,” Williams said. “From that perspective, you can be imaginative, in terms of scoring. I’ve been working on it. So I’m looking forward to it like everyone else. ”
Hornets coach Steve Clifford said the Suns will be tough out in the playoffs.
“They now have the number one thing they need to win a close game in the playoffs. They have two guys who can pull help without pick and roll help.” Clifford said, “So if you just give Booker the ball, you have to help him. You can’t defend him one-on-one. Then throw a Chris Paul pick-and-roll piece into Ayton the way he grew up.
“Playoff basketball has always been about how many players on the court can hit shots on their own and what they can do when they call for help. Two of the best players, and it certainly brings them into the conversation.”
Durant has spent the last few weeks getting to know his new teammates on a personal level and how they perform on the floor, but the sprained knee that has kept him out since Jan. 8 I have largely watched from the sidelines while recovering from…
He said his knee has been pain free for several weeks.
“Oh, I missed the game,” Durant said. We are looking forward to the next match. ”
