Kevin Durant Was Not Part of Future Fit, Claims $10 Billion Suns Owner

One of Mat Ishbia's first orders of business as the owner of Phoenix Suns was to sanction a trade to bring in Kevin Durant.

Kevin Durant Was Not Part of Future Fit, Claims $10 Billion Suns Owner

Suns owner Mat Ishbia and Kevin Durant (Image via FirstSportz)

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Kevin Durant spent the past two and a half seasons with the Phoenix Suns, hoping he would lead them to his 3rd NBA Championship. That was also owner Mat Ishbia‘s goal, as he invested in the team.

Ishbia is worth $10.3 billion as per Forbes, and came into the NBA with a clear view to change his new team’s reputation. He instructed his top brass to do whatever it takes, and bringing in the Slim Reaper was objective No. 1.

The idea was to pair the 2-time champion with Devin Booker and surround them with enough talent to change their history. Ishbia believed winning was the only way to show the world that he was behind the success.

Soon after, they chanced upon the opportunity to trade for Bradley Beal. Even though the entire basketball universe believed it was not a natural fit, Ishbia and his staff went ahead with the deal.

Two seasons later, the vision has proven to be deeply flawed. Even two championship-winning coaches have not been able to fix the chemistry problems, and Kevin Durant’s frustrations were evident.

Now, the Durantula has taken his belongings to Houston after the Suns traded with the Rockets. When Mat Ishbia was speaking with NBA Today, he was asked about the blockbuster 7-team trade.

We’re excited about the players we got. Kevin Durant is a great player; there is no one who can ever question that. Just wasn’t a fit for what we’re doing going forward.

Mat Ishbia replied

The businessman believes the players that the team received back in the trade will set the new identity for the organization. He stressed the need for tough defense and how the retooled squad is focused on success.

Mat Ishbia has bizarre opinion on how to gauge his team

As Mat Ishbia‘s Phoenix Suns move into a new era where they only have one superstar in Devin Booker, and a plethora of players who can help the team rise.

Mat Ishbia hoping retooled Phoenix Suns will be successful
Mat Ishbia hoping retooled Phoenix Suns will be successful (Image via Phoenix Suns/X)

It seems he has completely abandoned the superstars win titles vision, and now believes his team is better off with a team-first approach. While speaking to reporters at the Suns’ preseason press conference, he said this:

I hope that we win more games than we won last year, but the truth is, it’s not going to be measured in wins and losses this year. But it is going to be measured in success, and how are we successful, and how do you view it.

Mat Ishbia said

In sports, the only measure of success is the win-loss column. Anything else is taken with a grain of salt, and only extensive injuries and or external factors can alter that view.

It seems the billionaire was intentionally trying to deflect any expectations. He has seen what those expectations did to his as well as the organization’s reputation.

Now, it seems he wants to temper those hopes and wants to view his team’s progress on the basis of how they have managed to move on into a new era without Kevin Durant and Bradley Beal.

Kevin Durant shuts down social media trolls trying to use Suns’ debacle to flame him

As soon as the Phoenix Suns’ press conferences and photo sessions were over, there were quite a few fans who tried to troll Kevin Durant by blaming him for the team’s struggles.

Rage bait. Scapegoat bait.

Kevin Durant replied to a fan

The 15-time All-Star added a ‘blameMe’ hashtag, trying to start a trend where he was using it to deflect fans trying to blame him for the Suns’ problems.

There is no better athlete than the Paris Olympics gold medal winner when it comes to clashing with fans on social media, and this clap back was his way of getting back at them again.

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