Kevin Durant was both realistic and raw during his official unveiling as a Phoenix Sun, expressing his love for his former teammates alongside a desire to bring a championship to Phoenix
Unveiled in front of baying Footprint Center crowd, befitting of the seismic move, Durant, who referred to himself as ‘one of the best players to ever play this game,’ spent most of the press conference emphasizing a need for hard work while simultaneously downplaying hype surrounding a title push.
‘I’m more concerned about what we do every day,’ Durant said. ‘The stuff you guys don’t see, I think that’s what really brings championships.
‘I’m looking forward to getting back on that road to trying to do that again. I want to go out there and prove every night that we’ve got a chance to win.’
Durant was joined by new owner Mat Ishbia, as well as president of basketball operations, James Jones, at midcourt for the lengthy press conference where he answered questions about both his past, present and future.
Kevin Durant was introduced to reporters as a member of the Suns on Thursday afternoon
‘I feel like I’ve still gotta prove myself,’ Durant said of the here and now. ‘I want to put good stuff on film every day. That’s the only thing I’m concerned with at this point in my life.’
‘I feel like we’ve got all the pieces to be successful. We’ve got guys experienced in what it’s like in the final round… we’ve got guys that can do pretty much everything on the floor. So, we’ve gotta put it together. I’m looking forward to doing the work,’
Unsurprisingly, Durant was asked to summarize his time in Brooklyn – which was met with boos from the partisan crowd.
‘It was a lot of ups and downs, but I loved the grind. Everybody in Brooklyn loved the grind too, so i built a family over there,’ he said.’ They gon’ always be part of my journey. We didn’t accomplish what we wanted to accomplish as far as winning a championship.
‘Everybody there tried our hardest every day, regardless of what was going on in the media, what was going on with our teammates. Everybody who was in that gym, we grinded.
James Harden (L), Kyrie Irving (R) and Kevin Durant were unable to bring a title to Brooklyn
‘So, I love those guys. I get emotional talking about it because that was a special four years in my career,’ he said, becoming choked up. ‘They helped me through a lot. So, yeah it was terrible how stuff went down… but I wish them the best going forward. They got a bright future.’
When asked to further detail why the Nets failed to close in on a championship, Durant admitted ‘we just didn’t get on the court enough,’ referring specifically to the trio of himself, James Harden and Kyrie Irving.
‘I think when you seen James, Kyrie and myself, it was amazing basketball for [16] games, but in order for you to win a championship and be a great team, you just need more time on the floor.’
‘It’s another story about why we didn’t get on the floor together but we just didn’t get enough time of the floor. Those are Hall of Fame players I learned a lot from every day and I’m wishing them the best as well. It just didn’t work out.’
As for when Durant will be forming his own trio in Phoenix, with Devin Booker and Chris Paul, the two-time champion is unclear.
Devin Booker (R) and Durant are set to imminently form one of the deadliest duos in the NBA
Durant joined his Phoenix Suns teammates on the sidelines Tuesday night vs. Sacramento
‘I don’t know, hopefully soon. Hopefully you can feel my enthusiasm. But I’m going to follow the training staff and go on the schedule they got me on. Hopefully soon after the [All-Star] break.’
Speaking on Irving’s trade to Dallas, Durant revealed he was ‘upset’ when it occurred, but he was unaware of the Irving’s ‘situation with the organization.’
‘I thought we had some good momentum. We were finally building the culture we always wanted. I felt like every game we were building our chemistry but I didn’t know what was going on with Kyrie and his situation with the organization.
‘It was a blow to our team, it just took away our identity… Without him we didn’t have a clear identity. So, that was tough for me to stomach.
‘I loved playing with those guys throughout the year… it was tough to not finish the season, but I just tried to move forward as quickly as I could. It all happened so fast but I’m glad it worked out this way.’
The pair looked on course to challenge the top of the East prior to their respective trades
Ishbia opened proceedings from a stool, like Durant and Jones, admitting it was ‘a special day for Phoenix.’ The sentiment was quite literally echoed by the fervent crowd in attendance.
Durant, dressed in all-black, soaked in the raucous atmosphere, with chants of ‘KD!’ echoing throughout the arena repeatedly.
‘I truly don’t think I deserve all this,’ he said of the reception. ‘I appreciate the warm welcome, but I’ve got more to do.’
In its 54-year existence, Phoenix has never won an NBA championship, with Durant now the centerpiece, expectations – externally, at least – are set with eyes fixed upon the Larry O’Brien trophy.
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