In his Suns debut, Durant added an explosive offensive aspect to an already dangerous attack, scoring 23 points on 10-of-15 shooting to give the Durant era in Phoenix a strong start.
When Phoenix defeated the Charlotte Hornets 105-91, Durant, who is playing for his fourth team in the previous seven seasons, added six rebounds and two blocks.
Even though I’ve participated in roughly a thousand basketball games, Durant admitted that he felt anxious today. “I want to play hard for them and be coachable. This is a new team and group. I therefore considered all of that today.
Despite his success, Durant claimed he still feels like he has something to prove to his coaches and teammates.
“I sense a pressure,” every day on me and who I am,” Durant said. I blame myself for that.
Durant seemed to feed off Devin Booker, who finished with 37 points in the victory.
Durant described Booker as “simply a pure basketball player”.
After recovering from a knee ailment that has kept him sidelined since January 8th, Durant was only allowed to play for 27 minutes.
When Durant, wearing No. 35, was presented at the Spectrum Center, there was a raucous applause, and spectators put out their cellphones to try to capture a picture of him wearing his white jersey.
On his team’s opening possession, he missed a jump shot at the foul line, but a short while later, on a driving left-handed layup, he made his first basket for the Suns. Mark Williams, a rookie centre for the Hornets, was then blocked by Durant, who subsequently went down.
the Suns sprinted to a 9-0 lead with a three-pointer from the left wing.
In a historic trade that saw the Suns give up Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder, and four first-round selections, Durant was acquired from the Brooklyn Nets.
The anticipation for Durant’s entrance is great, unlike his previous trips in Seattle, Oklahoma City, Golden State, and Brooklyn, when it was less so.
Suns coach Monty Williams remarked, “You feel it. “You can tell when people are queued up outside the (team) hotel. It’s noticeable in the gym. I do, indeed. I figured out a long time ago that dealing with pressure and expectations is a luxury since that’s where the good stuff is, so you should embrace them.
Williams said that anything short than an NBA title this year would be unacceptable. would be disappointing, but said that any of the league’s elite clubs would experience the same.
Durant has experienced a lot over the course of his 15-year NBA career, but this is the first time he has switched teams mid-season.
During practise on Tuesday, Durant said, “I have a lot of experience in the NBA, so the transition was a little simpler than it would have been 10 years ago. “It all happened so quickly, and there was a speedy reversal. The game, though, remains a constant.
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After losing to the Milwaukee Bucks in six games in the NBA Finals of 2021, the Suns are hoping that the signing of Durant will help them get over the hump.
In the Western Conference, the fourth-place Suns (34-29) are currently.
Williams anticipates Durant. Chris Paul, Devin Booker, and Deandre Ayton are among of his new colleagues who will be greatly benefited.
Williams stated, “He’s more than a generational talent; he’s a historic talent. “From that perspective, merely in terms of scoring, you may utilise your imagination. But, I have made an effort to keep an open mind and avoid categorising him or predicting his future behaviour. As a result, I am anticipating it as much as everyone else.
This season, Durant has averaged 29 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.3 assists while shooting 55.9% from the field and 37.6% from three-point range. He is still at the top of his game.
The Suns will be a difficult opponent, according to Hornets head coach Steve Clifford. in the postseason.
Kevin
They now have two players who can attract help without the benefit of the pick-and-roll, which is the essential component needed to win close games in the playoffs, according to Clifford. “So, you must assist if you simply hand Booker the ball. He cannot be protected by you alone. Nobody can guard Kevin one-on-one if you give him the ball. Nobody. Then, given Ayton’s development, you include Chris Paul’s pick-and-roll with him. How many players on the court can get a shot on their own, and what can they do when they draw help, is what playoff basketball will ultimately come down to. These are also two of the league’s top players. They are unquestionably included in the discussion.
While he heals from a sprained knee that has kept him out since January 8, Durant has spent the past couple of weeks getting to know his new teammates personally and learning how they function on the court while primarily watching from the sidelines.
He claimed that for the past few weeks, his knee had been pain-free.
While memorising the team’s plays, he has been attempting to picture how he fits into the Suns’ system and how he can make the most impact.
I am aware of how my adaptability can benefit me in numerous ways on both ends of the court, Durant said. “Having a good shooting range” Even while I may not be aware of every minor nuance in a play, I may still try to figure things out by movement and other things by using different regions of the floor.