Kevin Durant stays sidelined with an MCL sprain he suffered a month in the past, however the Phoenix Suns are ecstatic about having added him on the commerce deadline.
Sufficient that it has given the workforce a lift with out the 13-time All-Star and former MVP even being on the ground but.
“I believe it’s greater than a raise. I believe it’s a jolt, if that is smart. Simply due to, not simply who he’s as a participant, however his love for the sport,” provided Suns coach Monty Williams following a 116-107 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday. “I believe the blokes are going to see one thing that they might not have seen earlier than so far as his method and the way a lot he simply likes to play basketball.”
The previous Nets star was dealt in the midst of the evening — round 1 a.m. ET on Thursday — to Phoenix, together with T.J. Warren, in change for Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder (who was later flipped to the Milwaukee Bucks), and a bevy of first- and second-round picks.
Although Durant’s Suns debut gained’t come for at the least two extra weeks — the workforce’s first recreation following the All-Star break is on Feb. 24 at house towards the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder — there’s pleasure throughout the roster.
“What KD say in that interview one time? What did he say? Y’all know who he’s,” Suns level guard Chris Paul mentioned. “KD is completely different, man. He completely different. That’s why he’s who he’s. He’s been doing it on this league for a very long time. We bought to see what it’s.”
DeAndre Ayton, who reportedly had his moments of dissension with the Suns’ group, additionally professed a degree of eagerness to go well with up alongside Durant within the frontcourt.
When requested if he felt that the Suns had been in place to win a championship after including Durant, Ayton replied, “Rattling proper. You rattling proper. That’s how I really feel.
“I believe we bought punched within the face so many instances the place we’ve tailored and accepted to the place, we’ve accepted adversity, it helped construct confidence to the place we’ve been in conditions the place a workforce threw every part at us to cease us regardless that we didn’t have the suitable items on the court docket … understanding what these groups can throw at us, we’re prepared for it man and it’s going to be actual enjoyable as a result of it’s so many items, golly. It’s bother and it’s enjoyable as a result of it’s about time. We bought the firepower for actual and you may really feel it.”
Added Paul: “It’s top-of-the-line gamers to ever play the sport. Simply to understand how he approaches the sport. His nickname’s Straightforward Cash, simply someone who loves the sport like that. I believe that’s what introduced me and [Devin Booker] nearer collectively as a result of he simply like to hoop. And KD, he simply like to hoop. So I’m excited concerning the technique of constructing this workforce.”
With the Nets this season, Durant averaged 29.7 factors, 6.7 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.5 blocks in 39 video games.
Previous to Durant’s harm, the Nets had gained 18 of 20 video games throughout a six-week stretch. Earlier than the commerce, the Nets with out Durant had been 5-10.
