Kevin Durant is a man on a mission, and he’s not letting anyone get in his way. Just hours after returning from injury and playing his first game in front of the Phoenix Suns’ fans, the NBA superstar sat down for an interview with The Athletic’s Shams Charania, dropping some bombs in the process.
Durant has always had little patience for people who come after him to criticize his place in the NBA pantheon. He famously got into a confrontational exchange with Charles Barkley, who said he is not a ‘bus driver’. Since then, Durant has gone out of his way to insult the Phoenix Suns legend.
But it’s not just Barkley. There are other NBA buffs who don’t consider Durant as part of the best in NBA history. Despite being one of the best players in the world and winning two NBA Championship rings, Durant still gets criticized. However, he doesn’t even care about this, as he made clear in the interview. All he wants to do is play basketball and spend time with his loved ones afterwards. Legacy is something he used to care about, but something happened along the way that took all the fun from those thoughts.
“I don’t care about legacy,” Durant told The Athletic. “I used to. I used to want to carve out a lane or space in this game for myself that people can remember, but it’s become too much of a thing now. It just becomes too much of a focus on other people. What’s he done, what’s he done? Comparisons. Before, when we wasn’t doing all this debating, I cared about it … I’m about to be in the same breath as these top guys. It was big.” “Nowadays, I truly, truly don’t care. I truly just want to go out there and produce, be the best that I could be, go home, hang with my family, that’s it.”
Despite his disinterest in legacy, Durant is still going to leave a legacy that will require a world of effort to catch. Between his impressive runs with the OKC Thunder and Golden State Warriors, he cemented himself as one of the greatest scorers ever to play the game. And even though he may not want it, Durant could add to his legacy this year if he can lead the Phoenix Suns to a title. If he can achieve this feat, he will undoubtedly go down as one of the best players ever to grace the NBA court.
Durant’s drive to succeed is unparalleled, and he is determined to let his game speak for itself. He’s not interested in what people say about him, but he’s interested in winning. And that is exactly what he plans to do.
“The Present is All That Matters”: Kevin Durant Prioritizes Performance Over Legacy in the NBA
Devin Booker, the star shooting guard of the Phoenix Suns, shared his thoughts on Kevin Durant’s home debut, calling it a “big night in the history of the organization.” Booker expressed his joy at the fans’ love and support, as the Suns improved to a perfect 4-0 with Durant in the lineup. Although Durant struggled with his shooting, going 5-of-18 from the field, he still managed to contribute 16 points, eight rebounds, and four assists in just 29 minutes, as he was on a minutes restriction.
After the game, Durant talked about the challenges of getting back into the rhythm of the game. When asked about his slow shooting start, he acknowledged his frustration, but also stated that he had experienced slow starts before and that it was all about figuring out how to make it. He admitted that he was nervous about his return to the court and had a hard time sleeping because of his excitement. He also shared that he may have rushed a few shots in his eagerness to get back into the game.
Overall, despite the slow start, Durant’s return to the court was a success, and the Suns’ perfect record with him on the lineup speaks volumes about his impact on the team. The Suns will look to continue their winning ways as they make a push towards the playoffs, with Durant leading the charge.
