Kevin Durant has never been one to shy away from his critics. One of his biggest critics has been none other than ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith. The two have a lot of history between them, dating back to Durant’s OKC days. So, the Phoenix Suns star is now well known for defending himself and making bold takes. Context? Back when Durant made a move to San Francisco from Oklahoma in 2016. Smith called it “the weakest move I’ve ever seen from a superstar.” While the pair did squash their beef for a little time, that didn’t last long. Since then, Smith and Durant have gone back and forth several times, and it seems they are not done with each other just yet. So be assured, it is in Stephen A. to take a dig at players, and the King wasn’t the only one the analyst was picking beef.
Stephen A. Smith went on a rant in First Take’s latest episode. He questioned the Phoenix Suns’ ownership and called the team’s owner, Mat Ishbia, “the worst in NBA history.” Did he stop here? Oh, no, it didn’t stop there. Smith took shots at the Suns’ front office’s poor decision-making over the past couple of seasons. They’ve fired three coaches, made terrible trades, and are now left with a poorly constructed roster. However, he wasn’t done! He also made remarks about Kevin Durant’s leadership. “When you look at Kevin Durant, we know what a baller he is. The issue was that, as I reported in the past, leadership.” Stephen A. Smith stated.
The attack didn’t stop here, though. It dig past. Hit where it hurts. “When we talked about Jimmy Butler wanting to go to Phoenix, why did we say that?It wasn’t just because Jimmy Butler was going to give you 20 a night. It’s because you knew that in that locker room, there was going to be somebody in there that wasn’t considered soft. “
Smith suggested that when former Miami star Jimmy Butler was looking to leave South Florida, he wanted him to land in Phoenix because it would’ve brought in leadership in the Suns locker room. Smith pointed out that Durant isn’t a leader. On the contrary, he just wants to do his job and not elevate his teammates. He stated that Durant hasn’t been successful since leaving Golden State. After these jabs from Smith, do you expect Kevin Durant would duck a chance of sparring with his critic?
Durant was soon on X to take a jab at Smith. One of KD’s confidants, Eddie Gonzalez, wasn’t going to let this disrespect from Smith slide. “It don’t matter how many teammates or coaches (the actual people in the Locker room) praise KD’s leadership. Or how much we capture on camera and mic. If a camera mic screamer man gets on TV and says he ain’t no leader, then dagammit to some of you, he ain’t no leader.” Gonzalez wrote on X. To which Durant replied. “U kinda loud, my boy.” Wrote Kevin Durant, taking a subtle shot at Smith.
U kinda loud my boy
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) April 15, 2025
Durant believes that he’s a great leader and doesn’t need Smith to teach him. While Durant has had his say, this beef seems far from over. Meanwhile, Phoenix’s massive offseason plans surface amid trade rumors.
The Suns’ plan to splash $149 million this summer
The trade rumors have been a hot topic in the Phoenix Suns throughout the season. It all started with Bradley Beal’s trade to Miami in exchange for Jimmy Butler. Then, several trade ideas followed, including all three of the Phoenix’s big three: Bradley Beal, Kevin Durant, and even Devin Booker. All glamor. But with their season cut short and the firing of head coach Mike Budenholzer, it seems like change is inevitable in the desert. It seems Kevin Durant’s and Bradley Beal’s days in Arizona might be limited. On the other hand, reports suggest that the Suns are likely to center their rebuild around none other than their shooting guard, Devin Booker.
Feb 7, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) dribbles against the Utah Jazz during the second half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
According to reports, Booker is set to receive a two-year extension worth a massive $149 million this summer. The Suns’ shooting guard has spent his entire career in the desert and is a key player for the team. “Booker is eligible for a two-year- $149 million extension this summer, which Phoenix is expected to offer, sources said,” Windhorst wrote. While Booker has been solid this season despite the ups and downs, he didn’t particularly have a great relationship with Mike Budenholzer. The 28-year-old has noted that he’ll have to be more vocal going forward, and he’s done so with the Budenholzer situation.
Now, with Budenholzer out of the picture, he doesn’t have anything to worry about going forward. This season, D’Book has managed to average 25.6 points along with his 4.1 rebounds and 7.1 assists per game. Moreover, the four-time All-Star is also the top scorer in Phoenix’s all-time scoring charts. So, building around the 28-year-old shooting guard might be the best choice. However, it depends on how they approach Kevin Durant and Bradley’s trade talks, especially Beal’s, who has a no-trade clause in his contract. Everyone will be keeping a close eye on developments in Arizona.
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