Phoenix Suns superstar forward Kevin Durant received a single fifth-place vote for MVP, as he finished ninth overall for the award.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic ended up winning his third MVP award. Oklahoma CIty guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2nd), Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (3rd), Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (4th), New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson (5th), Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (6th), Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (7th) and Sacramento Kings big man Domantas Sabonis (8th) finished ahead of Durant.
Suns star guard Devin Booker did not receive a single vote.
The complete voting results for the 2023-24 Kia NBA Most Valuable Player. pic.twitter.com/Dqbd7MaRjC
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) May 8, 2024
Even at age 35 and five years removed from an Achilles tear, Durant still averaged the fifth-most points in the NBA at 27.1 per game on 52.3/41.3/85.6 shooting splits to go along with 6.6 rebounds and 5.0 assists across 75 games for the 49-33 Suns.
Durant has won MVP one time in the 2013-14 season, and this is now the 11th time he has placed in the top 10. He is likely on the way to making his 11th All-NBA team (6x First Team, 4x Second Team).
“I don’t know why everyone else was surprised,” Suns general manager James Jones said of Durant playing 75 games this season earlier this month. “You don’t become one of the all-time greats by watching basketball. You play it. And he’s a guy that spends every non-practice hour trying to figure out how he can be a better pro. And if you do that, if that’s your life, you get the results that you get. I’m not surprised he played 75 (games), I think he said the other day, like, if it weren’t for someone falling into his knee, he probably would have played this number of games. To be honest with you, if it wasn’t for us and him just being prudent, he’s the guy that would try to play 82 games, because he cherishes every moment on the court.”
“I don't know why everyone else was surprised … he's a guy that spends every non-practice hour trying to figure out how he can be a better pro”
“He’s the guy that would try to play 82 games”#Suns GM James Jones to our @brendan_mau on Kevin Durant playing 75 games at age 35 pic.twitter.com/lAD2jXG92D
— Burn City Suns Talk 🎙️ (@BurnCitySuns) April 16, 2024
Following this season, Durant has the eighth-most points in NBA history, but also had one of his best defensive seasons in his career this year.
Coach Frank Vogel advocated for Durant to make his first-ever All-Defensive team this year.
“Look at the numbers,” Vogel said on April 9. “I think (Durant) should absolutely get First or Second All-Defensive Team. That’s my opinion. I mean, we’ve played small lineups where he’s guarding the biggest 3 (or) 4 each night. He’s guarded the best in the league, not (just) crunch time, (but) for 48 minutes, and has done a great job night in and night out. (He’s) made some great low man plays throughout the course of the season. He switches on to smaller guards. He’s played small-ball center and defended centers in a natural matchup. He’s really done it all for us. And I’ll be really disappointed if he doesn’t get that.”
Durant did not receive a single top-3 vote for Defensive Player of the Year, while there were 13 players that did. There are only two All-Defensive teams consisting of five players each.
The complete voting results for the 2023-24 Kia NBA Defensive Player of the Year. pic.twitter.com/SpApbyUUw2
— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) May 7, 2024
Durant’s strong effort on both sides of the ball did not end up going unrecognized by one of the MVP voters.
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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.
