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Kevin Durant’s Big Problem With Phoenix Suns Throughout 2023-24 Season, Revealed

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics
By Angelo Guinhawa | Last updated 4/29/24

Getting Kevin Durant to play with Devin Booker and Bradley Beal for the Phoenix Suns should have been the ideal formula to win a championship. Instead, the two-time Finals MVP endured a big problem all season long while playing with his All-Star teammates.

Just recently, the Suns were swept by Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the playoffs. In the final game of their series , the All-Star shooting guard put on a show by posting 40 points, nine rebounds, and six assists. Karl-Anthony Towns tallied 28 points and 10 rebounds, while Jaden McDaniels added 18 points and three boards.

The Suns, on the other hand, had Devin Booker lead the way with his 49-point performance against Minnesota in Game 4. Durant contributed 33 points, nine rebounds, and five assists, while Bradley Beal finished the game with nine points on an abysmal 30 percent shooting from the field.

The win marked the first time Minnesota won a playoff series since the 2003-04 season. However, Phoenix’s elimination comes as a massive disappointment after the franchise used up all of its resources to acquire Beal last year in a trade with the Washington Wizards.

Kevin Durant’s Main Problem With The Phoenix Suns This Season, Revealed

Phoenix’s first round series not only ended the All-Star trio’s first campaign this season, it also exposed how frustrated Durant was while playing for the Suns. In a tweet posted by Shams Charania and shared by NBA Central on X, the two-time NBA champion didn’t feel right at all with how things were run in the Valley:

Kevin Durant never felt comfortable with his role in Phoenix’s offense alongside Devin Booker and Bradley Beal this season, per @ShamsCharania

“Those sources said Durant had persistent issues with the offense, feeling that he was being relegated to the corner far too often and not having the proper designs to play to his strengths as the offense was built around pick-and-rolls,” NBA Central tweeted.

Phoenix’s decision to acquire Beal at the cost of depth and draft picks has certainly affected how Durant is used from an offensive perspective. With Booker and Beal needing the ball in their hands to produce results, the All-Star forward’s role was somehow reduced throughout the regular season.

It’s not yet known what moves Phoenix’s front office will take in the offseason to resolve this predicament. What’s certain, though, is that the Suns have very limited options in the coming months due to Beal’s no-trade clause and the absence of draft picks until 2030. In any case, it looks like Durant’s woes are only just beginning.

This article first appeared on Hardwood Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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