Is Kevin Durant in a no-win situation with the Phoenix Suns?
Kevin Durant is no stranger to criticism, but the criticism surrounding the NBA star seems to have mounted since he was traded to the Phoenix Suns.
Some NBA analysts wondered whether the criticism Durant receives is fair ahead of his expected debut in a Suns uniform against the Hornets in Charlotte on Wednesday.
ESPN's Jay Williams take? Durant is in a no-win situation with the Suns.
"For me, if you're Kevin Durant, even if you do win one (NBA championship) with Phoenix. Basketball purists will say: 'Phoenix has never won an NBA championship. Phoenix got blown out last year in a Game 7 in a game like we felt they were going to be in and got smashed. And now he's reviving Chris Paul and Devin Booker to help them to get over the hump to win a championship.' That's how I will look at it, but natural members of the media are going to say he still forced his way out of Brooklyn because that failed and he still got himself to another team where they had another perennial All-Star in Devin Booker and CP3.
"So it does feel like if you're KD, you're damned if you do, you're damned if you don't. You can't worry about other people cementing your greatness. All that matters at the end of the day is that you will be a two-time finals MVP, you're a two-time World Champion and if you become a third-time finals MVP and a three-time World Champion, he will be considered one of the greatest to ever do it. He may not be LeBron James, he may not be Michael Jordan, but you are not going to sit there and dismiss his talent."
More:Kevin Durant criticism, 'ring-chaser' narrative follows him to Phoenix Suns. Is it fair?
“You’re damned if you do, you’re damned if you don’t.”@RealJayWilliams says Kevin Durant is in a no-win situation in Phoenix. #KJM pic.twitter.com/SqBMKFJK4h
— Keyshawn, JWill & Max (@KeyJayandMax) March 1, 2023
Kevin Durant has a lot of critics, but he also has defenders
Criticism followed Durant to Phoenix with people calling him a "ring chaser" and other things for asking to be traded to the Suns from the Nets (and for being a part of previous "super teams" with the Brooklyn Nets and Golden State Warriors.
The Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo recently said on 'The Daily Show' of Durant: “You keep joining these super teams to win an NBA title. How about we work out together sometime so I can teach you how to carry your own team.”
Giannis to Kevin Durant:
“You keep joining superteams to win an NBA title…how about we work out together some time so I can teach you how to carry your own team” 😱
pic.twitter.com/K6sPld0xvt— Guru (@DrGuru_) February 28, 2023
Fox Sports' Skip Bayless didn't find the joke from Antetokounmpo funny.
"It's supposed to be cute and kee kee kee funny, and it's just not. It's unfair to Kevin Durant."@RealSkipBayless on Giannis joking he can teach KD how to carry his own team pic.twitter.com/uPhMhs7iQD
— UNDISPUTED (@undisputed) February 28, 2023
Charles Barkley recently criticized Durant, saying that he needed to win a title as the leader of a team to help his legacy.
"[LeBron] says, 'I had to win a championship without D-Wade to get old heads' respect.' Kobe Bryant says, 'I have to win a championship without Shaq to get these old heads off my back.' I hold Kevin Durant to the same criteria."
🗣️ Charles Barkleypic.twitter.com/1KPoj0mv1k— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) February 27, 2023
ESPN's JJ Redick took issues with that criticism of Durant from Barkley.
.@jj_redick responds to Charles Barkley saying Kevin Durant needs to win a championship as a team's leader: pic.twitter.com/rbJvjHDJji
— First Take (@FirstTake) February 28, 2023
Durant himself responded to it on social media.
I don’t remember bron saying this…somebody link me to the article https://t.co/Ze3z7b9vN2
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) February 27, 2023
Can Durant do anything to quiet his critics or is Williams right?
Is the new Suns star really "damned if you do, damned if you don't"?
We'll find out as we follow the Suns and Durant, and the narrative following them, the rest of this season and beyond.
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Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Kevin Durant criticism: NBA star in no-win situation with Phoenix Suns