Why did the Rockets return to the Nets their draft picks obtained in the James Harden trade, to recover those of the Suns, which the Nets recovered in the Kevin Durant trade?
The Houston Chronicle quickly explained that Houston was targeting Kevin Durant, while Adrian Wojnarowski (ESPN) rather assured that the Texans were positioning themselves in case of a future implosion of the Suns' “Big Three”, perhaps for KD but perhaps (especially?) for Devin Booker. In any case, contradictory information followed one another, with Vincent Goodwill (Yahoo! Sports) explaining that Kevin Durant already wanted to leave the Suns…
Enough to annoy the Team USA winger, while the team owner had to step up to the plate.
“It's mainly that you can simply fabricate lies and be believed by everyone.” KD replied. “Just press the 'KD wants to leave' button anytime you want to get attention.”
Devin Booker Salutes Mat Ishbia
Kevin Durant probably knows that he is paying for his reputation, and his multiple requests to be transferred to Brooklyn, when he asked to leave before his contract extension even began, before retracting… then finally reiterating his request a few months later to land in Arizona.
His teammate in the selection, Devin Booker, in any case appreciated Mat Ishbia's speech.
“I've never seen a landlord do anything like this before.”he explains about how the Suns boss denied rumors about Kevin Durant. “It shows the type of man Mat is. He's fully behind the group we have. We believe in the group we have and the talent we have.”
The rearguard is in any case demanding continuity to judge the “Big Three” of the Suns, even if Frank Vogel will no longer be on the team's bench next season, replaced by Mike Budenholzer.
“Yes, you have to have it (continuity). Boston has been there. Obviously the arrival of Jrue (Holiday) helped them a lot. But to move forward, you have to experience things and learn from them. I think experience is the best teacher.” explains Devin Booker.
| Kevin Durant | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2007-08 | SEA | 80 | 35 | 43.0 | 28.8 | 87.3 | 0.9 | 3.5 | 4.4 | 2.4 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 2.9 | 0.9 | 20.3 |
| 2008-09 | OKAY | 74 | 39 | 47.6 | 42.2 | 86.3 | 1.0 | 5.5 | 6.5 | 2.8 | 1.8 | 1.3 | 3.0 | 0.7 | 25.3 |
| 2009-10 | OKAY | 82 | 40 | 47.6 | 36.5 | 90.0 | 1.3 | 6.3 | 7.6 | 2.8 | 2.1 | 1.4 | 3.3 | 1.0 | 30.2 |
| 2010-11 | OKAY | 78 | 39 | 46.2 | 35.0 | 88.0 | 0.7 | 6.1 | 6.8 | 2.7 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 2.8 | 1.0 | 27.7 |
| 2011-12 | OKAY | 66 | 39 | 49.6 | 38.7 | 86.0 | 0.6 | 7.4 | 8.0 | 3.5 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 3.8 | 1.2 | 28.0 |
| 2012-13 | OKAY | 81 | 39 | 51.0 | 41.6 | 90.5 | 0.6 | 7.3 | 7.9 | 4.6 | 1.8 | 1.4 | 3.5 | 1.3 | 28.2 |
| 2013-14 ★ | OKAY | 81 | 39 | 50.3 | 39.1 | 87.3 | 0.7 | 6.7 | 7.4 | 5.5 | 2.2 | 1.3 | 3.5 | 0.7 | 32.0 |
| 2014-15 | OKAY | 27 | 34 | 51.0 | 40.3 | 85.4 | 0.6 | 6.0 | 6.6 | 4.1 | 1.5 | 0.9 | 2.7 | 0.9 | 25.4 |
| 2015-16 | OKAY | 72 | 36 | 50.5 | 38.8 | 89.8 | 0.6 | 7.6 | 8.2 | 5.0 | 1.9 | 1.0 | 3.5 | 1.2 | 28.2 |
| 2016-17 | GOS | 62 | 33 | 53.7 | 37.5 | 87.5 | 0.6 | 7.7 | 8.3 | 4.8 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 1.6 | 25.1 |
| 2017-18 | GOS | 68 | 34 | 51.6 | 41.9 | 88.9 | 0.5 | 6.4 | 6.8 | 5.4 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 3.0 | 1.8 | 26.4 |
| 2018-19 | GOS | 78 | 35 | 52.1 | 35.3 | 88.5 | 0.4 | 6.0 | 6.4 | 5.9 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 2.9 | 1.1 | 26.0 |
| 2020-21 | BRK | 35 | 33 | 53.7 | 45.0 | 88.2 | 0.4 | 6.7 | 7.1 | 5.6 | 2.0 | 0.7 | 3.4 | 1.3 | 26.9 |
| 2021-22 | BRK | 55 | 37 | 51.8 | 38.3 | 91.0 | 0.5 | 6.9 | 7.4 | 6.4 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 3.5 | 1.0 | 29.9 |
| 2022-23 * | All Teams | 47 | 36 | 56.0 | 40.4 | 91.9 | 0.4 | 6.3 | 6.7 | 5.0 | 2.1 | 0.7 | 3.3 | 1.4 | 29.1 |
| 2022-23 * | BRK | 39 | 36 | 55.9 | 37.6 | 93.4 | 0.4 | 6.4 | 6.7 | 5.3 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 3.5 | 1.5 | 29.7 |
| 2022-23 * | PHX | 8 | 34 | 57.0 | 53.7 | 83.3 | 0.4 | 6.0 | 6.4 | 3.5 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 2.5 | 1.3 | 26.0 |
| 2023-24 | PHX | 75 | 37 | 52.3 | 41.3 | 85.6 | 0.6 | 6.1 | 6.6 | 5.0 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 3.3 | 1.2 | 27.1 |
| Total | 1061 | 37 | 50.1 | 38.7 | 88.4 | 0.7 | 6.4 | 7.0 | 4.4 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 3.2 | 1.1 | 27.3 | |
How to read the stats? GM = Games Played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots Made / Shots Attempted; 3pts = 3-pointers / 3-pointers Attempted; LF = Free Throws Made / Free Throws Attempted; Off = Offensive Rebound; Def = Defensive Rebound; Tot = Total Rebounds; Pd = Assists; Fte: Personal Fouls; Int = Steals; Bp = Loose Balls; Ct: Blocks; Pts = Points.
