While recovering from an injury that has kept him sidelined with the Phoenix Suns during the crucial final stretch of the 2024-25 NBA season, Kevin Durant offered a strong opinion on the current state of the league and the level of play that teams and players are exhibiting compared to previous years.
“I think we’re at the peak of basketball, in my opinion,” Durant said in a recent interview with The Athletic. “You see it through, what, the last six champions have been different. There’s going to be complaints across the board, but I think the game’s in a good place.”
The Phoenix Suns forward elaborated on his viewpoint. “I feel like the game is always going to evolve into something different. There’s going to be players that change the mindset of how to win a basketball game,” he explained.
He then provided an example of how the game is changing recently. “Now, you see, I think the bigs are starting to come back around, where the most dominant bigs are the guys that you want to run an offense through and play off of,” Durant added.
Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns gets instructions from head coach Mike Budenholzer during a game against the Chicago Bulls on February 22, 2025.
Durant addresses criticism of today’s NBA style of play
In recent years, there has been a shift in the style of play in the NBA, heavily influenced by the Golden State Warriors and Stephen Curry’s three-point revolution. This has sparked criticism, even from current and former players.
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However, Kevin Durant isn’t one to reject these changes in playing style and has his own perspective. “I just think the game is always evolving, and if you complain about it too much, then you’re not going to see the beauty of what’s going on,” Durant remarked.
“Obviously, nothing’s perfect, and there’s going to be complaints from different sides, with people wanting to see it in different ways,” KD acknowledged. “But for the most part, you’re seeing the growth. You’re seeing the players get better.”
What’s next for Durant in the near future?
While the Phoenix Suns are fighting to secure a spot in the Western Conference play-in tournament and Kevin Durant continues to recover from an ankle injury that will keep him out for at least a week, speculation about the forward’s future after the season persists.
According to Logan Murdock of The Ringer, NBA sources say Durant will be open to returning to the Suns next season, despite many believing he would switch teams this summer. The forward will be eligible for a two-year, $122 million extension once this season concludes.
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