During an interview with NBA reporter Duane Rankin of The Arizona Republic, Phoenix Suns CEO Josh Bartelstein said Kevin Durant is not looking to leave the team.
Rumors circulated that Durant wasn’t happy being with the Suns after the Minnesota Timberwolves swept Phoenix in the first round of the 2024 playoffs.
However, Bartelstein said those rumors were false.
“The most important thing is Kevin loves being here and we love having Kevin here,” Bartelstein said. “He’s focused on the Olympics, but we’re always having dialogue. The relationship is what matters the most. The relationship is in a great spot. I talk to (Durant’s agent) Rich Kleiman, who works with Kevin, all the time. Conversations are great not just on extension stuff, but on all things that have been going on.”
Durant averaged 27.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 0.9 steals and 1.2 blocks in 2023-24 while shooting 52.3% from the field, 41.3% from beyond the arc and 85.6% from the free-throw line. The two-time NBA champion will make $49.9 million next season.
The Suns fired Frank Vogel after one season and hired Mike Budenholzer, who won the 2021 title with the Milwaukee Bucks against the Suns.
The Houston Rockets were interested in trading for Durant this offseason, but the Suns are not looking to trade Durant, Devin Booker or Bradley Beal.
Booker averaged 27.1 points, 4.5 rebounds, 6.9 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.4 blocks this past season while shooting 49.2% from the floor, 36.4% from 3 and 88.6% from the free-throw line. The Kentucky product will make $49.4 million next season.
Meanwhile, Beal averaged 18.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.0 steals and 0.5 blocks in his first season with the Suns while shooting 51.3% from the field, 43.0% from beyond the arc and 81.3% from the free-throw line. The veteran guard, who has a no-trade clause, will make $50.2 million next season.
Durant told NBA reporter Marc J. Spears of Andscape that he’s looking forward to next season.
“I’m excited about the season, Bud, his staff, our team,” Durant told Andscape. “We’re getting another year to just get comfortable with one another. Also, we have been underestimated so far this summer since the season ended with a sweep. We deserve to be underestimated as a team, but I’d like that we’ll be able to play a more chip on our shoulders coming in here next [season] to prove some people different.”
Looking for the latest NBA Insider News & Rumors?
Be sure to follow Hoops Wire on TWITTER and FACEBOOK for breaking NBA News and Rumors for all 30 teams!
