At 35 years old, Kevin Durant is in his first full season with the Phoenix Suns and still among the top players in the NBA.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Durant and the Suns were knocked out in the second round of the NBA playoffs last season in his first year in the Valley. However, Durant only played eight regular season games for Phoenix last year.
This season, Durant is currently a top-10 MVP candidate, averaging 28.2 points on 54/44/87 splits, 6.6 rebounds and 5.7 assists in 48 games for the 33-22 Suns.
Now in his 16th season total in the NBA, Durant has accomplished a lot and has said he wants his name to be among the all-time greats of the game. Durant, a two-time NBA champion, is in 10th place on the NBA’s all-time scoring list and only needs 45 points to pass Carmelo Anthony for ninth.
Even more than this, Durant revealed he also wants his name etched into Suns’ history. He addressed the topic of finishing his career with the Suns in a sit-down interview with ESPN’s Malika Andrews.
“I’ve been on so many teams, and I’ve said this before, (but) right now, in this moment, today, without thinking about the next moment, yeah (I want to finish my career in Phoenix),” Durant told Andrews. “But that’s just saying right now, and I can’t really predict what may happen. But I love playing in Phoenix. I love the fanbase, the city. I’ve grown to understand what our mission is being in the Valley and how deep these people care about their team.
“I started understanding the history of the Suns, and I’m glad to be a part of it. I want to go up in that Ring of Honor one day, so however long that takes.”
"I want to go up in that ring of honor one day."
Kevin Durant on playing for the Suns.
(via @malika_andrews) pic.twitter.com/GmHjeApZrv
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) February 22, 2024
Phoenix’s core player is and will be Devin Booker until Booker leaves the Suns, but Durant could rival his impact if he helps bring a championship to the Valley.
Durant is currently on the second season of a four-year, $194 million deal. It is clear the Suns want Durant along for the long ride after bringing him in via trade last season.
How long could Durant play?
Durant tore his achilles in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, an injury that could end the career of most players at his age. However, Durant has excelled since his return to the league.
In 185 regular season games since suffering the injury, Durant has averaged 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.7 assists with the Nets and now the Suns. Before that, Durant averaged 27.0 points, 7.1 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 849 regular season games.
Durant discussed the longevity of his career with Andrews.
“Being around for so long, you gain so much experience about the game,” Durant said. “You see some of the greats in other sports, the Tom Brady’s, the Cal Ripken’s and the Derek Jeter’s, these guys who have played such a long time, and you just get inspired by that …Â If you want to call it the back-nine of my career, it just makes it even more fun.”
Durant joked about playing into his 40s.
“I could catch and shoot a little bit, play a little defense, be a 3-and-D, sixth man when I’m in my 40s,” Durant said, smiling. “We’ll see.”
These are the players currently in the Suns’ Ring of Honor (A’mare Stoudamire will be inducted on March 2):
- Alvan Adams
- Charles Barkley
- Tom Chambers
- Jerry Colangelo
- Walter Davis
- Cotton Fitzsimmons
- Connie Hawkins
- Kevin Johnson
- John MacLeod
- Dan Majerle
- Shawn Marion
- Al McCoy
- Steve Nash
- Joe Proski
- Dick Van Arsdale
- Paul Westphal
Booker will obviously join them, but has a long ways to go still in his NBA career. What will it take for Durant to get his name among the franchise’s greats?
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Brendan Mau is a senior writer covering the Phoenix Suns and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @Brendan_Mau
