In the aftermath of a miserable season in Phoenix, fans and experts are still looking for an explanation on how things went wrong. As bad as things got, however, Kevin Durant recently spoke up about the situation and revealed what went down behind the scenes.
"I have to contest this 94-footer," wrote Durant on X. "This some bullshit to throw on us. Yeah, yeah, yeah, we were trash this year, ha, ha, ha, but we NEVER got close to this. NEVER."
Durant felt compelled to speak up after one of his former Warriors teammates (DeMarcus Cousins) let it slip that the Suns had resorted to physical violence in response to their ongoing struggles. This came after the firing of Mike Budenholzer, who did nothing to heal a broken and toxic locker room culture.
If the Suns really did start laying hands on each other, it makes sense why they never developed a positive chemistry on the court. Even as Durant tried to deny the claims, Cousins stood by his reporting and even revealed the source as one of Durant's own teammates.
"The source was one of your teammates, killa," wrote Cousins. "And I wasn’t referring to you! Save this sh*t for the others homie…"
Durant has been in pretty tough spots before. During his stint with the Warriors, he clashed with Draymond Green after winning two championships, and it's what eventually led to his exit. Then, with the Brooklyn Nets, Durant had to endure endless chaos as a cold war broke out between Kyrie Irving and team owner Joe Tsai over COVID vaccination protocols. Durant had to force his way out until he landed with the Suns, a place where he thought he could thrive.
Under new owner Mat Ishbia, Phoenix tried everything to make it work with their big three (Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal), but they failed to live up to expectations, and their whole team gave up when the transition proved too difficult.
Fist fights or no, the situation has been deemed as unsalvageable for Phoenix, and the best thing they could do now is break up their failed star core. Since Booker is the designated chosen one and Bradley Beal has a no-trade clause, it means Durant is the prime subject to be traded, and several teams have already made lucrative offers for the 2x champion.
In a few weeks, Durant will be putting the Suns behind him as he begins a new chapter of his career. Meanwhile, Phoenix will still be on the hook for rebuilding their team after losing such an elite superstar. While the Suns are hoping to get a haul for Durant, his value is somewhat limited, and they shouldn't expect any major returns in a deal.
What's important for the Suns is establishing a winning culture in the locker room and creating an environment where everyone can thrive. The team cannot function with reports of violence in the locker room, and until they get to the root of the issue, they will never reach their peak potential.
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