As much fun as it was to watch Kevin Durant play for the Golden State Warriors last season, it was just as fun to watch him and his teammates compete in the summer league. Many people thought that the Suns had a good chance of making the playoffs this season with KD on their roster. But what happened? KD left Phoenix for the Brooklyn Nets and now it seems like the Suns are just trying to hold on to playoff spots. In this blog post, we talked to some of the Sun players about their experiences this summer and how they think things will go moving forward.
1. How the summer of KD went for the Suns
The summer of Kevin Durant was filled with a lot of speculation and uncertainty. For the Suns, it was an opportunity to learn all they could about their new teammate, and see how he would fit into their system.
“He’s a good guy,” said forward T.J. Warren. “I think the biggest thing we can do is come together as a team and try to gel as soon as possible.”
For coach Booker, getting to know KD was essential to help facilitate his transition to Phoenix. “It’s going to take some time for him to understand our system,” Booker said. “He has great basketball intelligence, but he needs to Understand the gameplan, understanding what he should be doing on each possession.”
Since joining the Suns, Durant has averaged 26 points per game while shooting 49 percent from the field and 43 percent from three-point range. He’s also averaging 7 rebounds and 5 assists per contest.
2. How the team is preparing for the upcoming season
The Phoenix Suns were one of the teams that lost a lot of players this off-season. The Suns are expecting to be a lottery team again this season, and they will need to improve to make the playoffs.
One way that the team is preparing for the upcoming season is by playing summer league games. The Sun’s team is made up of some young players and some veterans, so it will be interesting to see how they perform in Summer League.
Another way that the Suns are preparing for the upcoming season is by getting better chemistry. The team has been working on improving their communication skills since last season ended.
Finally, the Suns are also hoping that Kevin Durant will join them this season. Durant was drafted by the Golden State Warriors last year, but he became a free agent at the end of June. If Durant joins the Suns, they would become a serious contender in the Western Conference.
3. What players are most looking forward to in the upcoming year
Phoenix Suns players talk about the summer of Kevin Durant
The Phoenix Suns had a very eventful offseason, and one of the more talked-about aspects was the departure of All-Star forward Kevin Durant. Nevertheless, players are still looking forward to playing against him this season.
“I think it’s going to be a good challenge for us,” center Tyson Chandler said. “He’s a great player, so it’s going to be fun playing against him.”
Chandler is in his 14th season with the Suns and has faced off against Durant numerous times during that span. He sees the 2017-18 campaign as another opportunity to test himself against one of the best players in the league.
“It will be an interesting matchup because he can do it all,” Chandler said. “He can score, pass and rebound, so it will be exciting to see how we match up against him.”
Other players on the roster are just as eager to take on Durant. Forward Alex Len said that facing KD is something that he’s been anticipating all offseason long. And forward T.J. Warren believes there is no more tremendous honor than being able to face off against someone who has reached such lofty heights in their career.
“It would mean a lot if I could get my hands on him,” Warren said. “He’s one of the greatest players ever and I’m looking forward to trying to stop him this year.”
4. Thoughts on KD’s departure
KD’s departure has left many Suns players feeling heartbroken. In an interview with The Arizona Republic, P.J. Tucker said “It’s been tough because we all grew up rooting for him.” He also added that he hopes KD goes on to have a successful career and that he “will always be remembered as one of the best players in Suns history.”
While most players are sad to see Durant go, some are excited about the opportunity to prove themselves on a new team and bring home a championship. Eric Bledsoe said, “I think it’ll be an opportunity to show people what I can do and show them how good of a player I am.”
Thoughts on KD’s departure:
KD’s departure has left many Phoenix Suns players feeling heartbroken. P.J. Tucker told The Arizona Republic that it’s been tough because they all grew up rooting for him, and he hopes KD goes on to have a successful career and that he ‘will always be remembered as one of the best players in Suns history.’ Eric Bledsoe echoed these sentiments, saying ‘I think it’ll be an opportunity to show people what I can do and show them how good of a player I am.’
5. What goals do they have for themselves this season?
The Phoenix Suns players have set some lofty goals for themselves this season. “Our goal is to get to the playoffs,” said Devin Booker. “We’re just going to continue to work hard and try to build off of last year.” Deandre Ayton echoed Booker’s sentiment, saying that the team’s main goal is “to make the playoffs and then see where it takes us from there.” Other players on the roster have their own goals, such as getting better defensively or improving their 3-point shooting. Whatever the outcome, these players are confident that they can achieve something special this season.
6. Outlook for Phoenix in the next year or two
In the summer of 2016, Kevin Durant left the Oklahoma City Thunder for the Golden State Warriors. This move shocked most NBA fans and analysts, as Durant was one of the league’s most dominant players. The Suns were one of several teams that unsuccessfully tried to sign Durant during free agency.
Despite their unsuccessful attempt to bring in Durant, the Suns seem to be on track for a successful season in 2017-2018. They made some key acquisitions in free agency, including forward Trevor Ariza and center Deandre Ayton. These additions will help take Phoenix to new heights.
The Suns also drafted prospect Mohamed Bamba with the first overall pick in this year’s draft. Bamba is a versatile player who can play both frontcourt positions. He will be an important part of Phoenix’s future and could lead them to playoff contention in the next few years.
