Kevin Durant commends Phoenix Suns reporter amidst negativity around his rumored trade request

Kevin Durant marks out Forbes NBA reporter for his exemplary coverage of the Phoenix Suns despite their disappointing season.

Kevin Durant commends Phoenix Suns reporter amidst negativity around his rumored trade request

Kevin Durant

The marriage between Kevin Durant and his last two NBA teams has been ill-fated, to say the least. He departed the Brooklyn Nets after winning just one playoff series following a one-year rehab for his torn Achilles. His luck at Phoenix was no better as Durant and Devin Booker ran into the buzzsaw of the 2023 Denver Nuggets.

Another playoff sweep – this time at the hands of Anthony Edwards’ Timberwolves – put paid to their 2024 campaign. But unlike the Nets sojourn, which ended after a trade request from a star running mate, the Phoenix Suns portion of his career has been marred by playing on imbalanced defensive rosters and losing games due to a lack of fourth-quarter execution. Despite Durant having the best scoring season ever for a 36-year-old, the Suns finished the year 36-46.

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Kevin Durant was reported to have sought a move away from Arizona on Monday following the final day of regular season play. The four-time scoring champion will probably wait for the postseason to finish before initiating contact with other teams. As reported earlier during the season, he will be fancied by teams like Golden State, OKC and Houston. Any of these moves would definitely make these teams favorites in the West.

Amidst all this reporting, Forbes’ NBA reporter Shane Young shouted out his temperament. According to Young, Durant displayed humility after losses and kept things real, unlike other players in such positions. Durant, who has been accosted by dishonest reporting all through 2024-25 by other Suns media members, attested to Young’s professionalism and complimented him for his exemplary coverage.

Shane, I appreciate your approach to your work, u made basketball convos fun and easy. Great working with u brother and I appreciate the kind words.

Kevin Durant tweeted in reply to Shane Young

Durant has every reason to feel cynical about the reporting around his situation. Despite being the Suns’ most reliable presence on both ends, Arizona media marked him out for special treatment.

Where could Kevin Durant be headed? A look into the sweepstakes for the two-time Finals MVP

There are quite a few destinations, both in the East and the West, which make basketball sense for Durant. The forward has one of the most plug-and-play skillsets in league history. He can play on the ball, facilitating his fellow teammates and setting the table. Durant can also be equally effective off it, getting buckets from behind the 3-point line and from midrange. With the tools at his disposal, Durant will be a mismatch till his final NBA play.

Among teams that have assets, the OKC Thunder should undoubtedly take a close look at his situation. The team went 68-14 in the regular season, meaning that anything less than a Finals appearance should be a disappointment.

As the youngest team in the NBA, having an experienced bailout option in Durant would raise the team’s ceiling even more. Him bringing a championship to Oklahoma City in 2026 or beyond would be poetic beyond measure. Sam Presti has 35 to 37 picks at his disposal, depending on which ones convey. He can undoubtedly trade for any viable contract in the league with his assets.

The next best situation for Durant would probably be the Houston Rockets. The Rockets have great rotation players starting as well as off the bench. They possess Cam Whitmore, a few of the Suns’ picks in the future and other picks of their own.