NBA players today are more skilled than ever, but the product itself has come under intense criticism in recent years. Former players and many fans don't believe the game is worth celebrating anymore, but Kevin Durant disagrees. During an interview with The Athletic, Durant made a bold claim about the state of the game today.
“I think we’re at the peak of basketball, in my opinion,” Durant said. “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. 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. 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.
“Obviously, nothing’s perfect, and there’s going to be complaints from different sides, with people wanting to see it in different ways," Durant added. "But for the most part, you’re seeing the growth. You’re seeing the players get better. 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.”
We sure are in the era of parity at the moment. No team has been able to defend the title since Durant's Golden State Warriors accomplished the feat in 2018. So, there is an element of uncertainty in terms of the title, and the skill level is off the charts. A player today is able to do more things on the court than ever before, and all that makes Durant believe this is the peak.
Durant wants the old heads and fans to appreciate what they get to watch instead of complaining all the time. This is far from the first time he has spoken on this matter as well.
Durant argued with fans over the "three-point problem" and the evolution of the NBA back in December. Despite his best efforts, though, the complaints haven't stopped.
Kevin Durant Could End Up Staying With The Suns After This Season
Over the last month or so, it had seemed like a foregone conclusion that this 2024-25 season would be Durant's last with the Phoenix Suns. The Suns were open to moving the 15-time All-Star at the trade deadline, and a move in the summer seemed inevitable. It would appear that's not a guarantee, though, as Durant is reportedly open to staying.
“The book isn’t closed on Durant returning to the Suns next season. League sources suggest that Durant, who will be eligible for a two-year, $122 million extension this offseason, would be open to a return. Booker says he’d be excited to continue playing with his idol.”
Durant, who is averaging 26.6 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 0.8 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game in 2024-25, had never expressed a desire to leave the Suns. The team reportedly wants to part ways, though, and it will be interesting to see what happens in the summer.
As for the here and now, Durant is currently on the sidelines due to a left ankle sprain. The 36-year-old is expected to miss at least a week, and expect the 35-41 Suns to continue to struggle in his absence.