Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant weighed in on Diana Taurasi’s retirement from the Phoenix Mercury and the WNBA as a whole during the Suns’ media day ahead of the opening of the 2024-25 NBA season.
Durant gave Taurasi her due praise for her contributions to the league in her 20 years playing for the Mercury.
“DT has done so much for basketball as a whole,” Durant said. “I remember her as a high school–middle school player, setting an example for basketball in the women’s game, introducing some people to the women’s game when she was coming out of UConn.
“To be with one franchise her whole career, reach the pinnacle, be the all-time leading scorer, 20 years in the league, championships, gold medals, she’s done it all. It is still DT that I met 15 years ago. I appreciate what she has brought to the game of basketball, this area of Phoenix, and the whole of Arizona.”
The 14-time NBA All-Star also thinks the 11-time WNBA All-Star still has some gas left in the tank. “I think she still got a couple more years left to play. Even if she doesn’t, she can walk away with her head held high for what she’s done for the game,” Durant added.
Diana Taurasi didn’t outright talk about retirement, but she did hint at the possibility during the team’s final home game this season.
Devin Booker sang high praises for Diana Taurasi amid retirement talks
Apart from Kevin Durant, his teammate Devin Booker also spoke highly of Diana Taurasi during their media day on Monday. The Suns guard recalled his conversations with the 20-year WNBA veteran in passing.
“Since Day 1, Diana has [had] the energy and spirit like she is ready to play tomorrow. They say she is retiring, I don’t know, but I hope not because she has always been a staple for me throughout my whole career, even the short conversations of passing in the locker rooms or in the weight rooms,” Booker said.
The four-time NBA All-Star also complimented Taurasi for being “a historian of the game” who paved the way for the coming generation. “She set the bar so high that, you know, they (the other players in the WNBA) probably won’t be able to reach.” said Booker.
With a long list of accomplishments throughout her two decades in the WNBA, if Diana Taurasi decides to retire ahead of the next season, no one can say she still has some unfinished business.
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