Kevin Durant admitted that the Phoenix Suns had some “heated conversations” internally during the team’s 15-15 start to the 2023-24 NBA season.
One such instance occurred during the Warriors’ 129-113 victory over the Houston Rockets on Wednesday, when Durant, Devin Booker, and others engaged in what The Athletic’s Kelly Iko described as “an emotionally charged conversation between like-minded individuals.”
Durant saw it as just another step in the process.
“So, tonight, it was good for us to go through some stuff early in the game to have those heated conversations where we can be like ‘All right, this is what we’re both supposed to do,’ and come back into the locker room and talk it over again,” according to him.
“Heated debates can be beneficial to teams because they allow members to be honest and open with one another before debating and moving on.” We’re all working on it. It’s difficult with a new squad, a new bunch of people, and players coming in and out of the lineup. You want to feel at ease with those interactions, and I believe we’re on our way.”
Of course, those remarks are inextricably linked to both Phoenix’s track record and a recent report from ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. On NBA Countdown, Wojnarowski stated that the Suns as an organization “can feel the frustration [from] Durant,” which derives in part from “missed games for Brad Beal” and “the underwhelming supporting cast.”
Every championship winner faces hardship in some manner, and passionate debate may surely help to resolve any concerns on the court or in the locker room.
However, candid chats aren’t always effective; otherwise, player-only meetings would be regarded as a lot more beneficial exercise rather than a portent of impending catastrophe.
Public squabbles between teammates can also indicate to larger schisms behind the scenes, as Durant’s disagreement on the bench with then-Golden State Warriors colleague Draymond Green demonstrated in 2018.
The rest of the season will primarily decide how Durant’s mentioned chats are presented.
If the Suns can right the ship and make a long playoff run, this time of year will be remembered as a moment when they struck rock bottom and came out on the other side. If the team’s troubles continue and it falls far short of its goal, detractors will say the warning signs were there all along.