The Phoenix Suns defeated the Milwaukee Bucks 108-106 on Monday. Devin Booker received a screen from rookie Oso Ighodaro on the play that won the game. After the screen was set, Booker had an open mid-range jump jumper because the defense had inadvertently opened up the floor. The top shooting guard claimed after the game that the move was initially created for 2024 Olympic champion Kevin Durant.
Booker and Durant played together for Team USA during the summer and returned home with the gold medal. The former Kentucky guard revealed that the play was originally for his star teammate. However, the defense denied the two-time Finals MVP and it allowed the 6-foot-6 guard to take the final shot.
“The play was actually for KD, a play that we ran in the Olympics with Steve Kerr,” Booker said. “But they denied him, Oso set an unbelievable screen… [I was] trying to get to the rim but I seen them bout to cut me off so, [I] just side stepped.”
In anticipation of their game against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday, the team worked out on Tuesday. Mike Budenholzer, the head coach, joked that he would write a thank-you message to Steve Kerr, the head coach of the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors coach, who was also the national team’s bench captain, designed the Suns’ sequence against the Bucks.
“We should send Steve Kerr a thank you note,” Bud said. “I think Kevin’s a big part of it. It may have been ran pre-Olympics, but it definitely was run in Paris this summer.”
"We should send Steve Kerr a thank you note."
Mike Budenholzer on running same play Kerr ran for Kevin Durant coaching Team USA in Paris Olympics.
Booker got shot for winner Monday vs Bucks.
"It may have been ran pre-Olympics, but it definitely was run in Paris this summer."… pic.twitter.com/HaW2CYQLzW
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) March 25, 2025
The Suns got their fourth consecutive victory after defeating the Bucks. They anticipate playing the reigning champions and possibly going on a five-game winning streak.
Phoenix Suns star rumored to be a target for the Boston Celtics
There is no guarantee that Durant would want to rejoin the Phoenix Suns for the upcoming campaign given their current setbacks. Furthermore, during the trade deadline, the management attempted to trade KD. Many people think that the great forward won’t return to the team for the 2025–2026 campaign as a result.
According to a longtime NBA analyst, Nick Wright, fans should be on the lookout for a potential chance Durant might end up with the Celtics.
“Two totally unrelated people, both of whom have reputations for knowing things that other people don’t know, have said to me, watch out for Durant in Boston,” Wright said.
“I don’t know even the pieces that would work and it feels a lot like what Durant got killed for with Golden State before.”
Nick Wright says watch for Kevin Durant to Boston 👀
"Two totally unrelated people, both of whom have reputations for knowing things that other people don't know, have said to me watch out for Durant in Boston"
(h/t @ohnohedidnt24 )
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) March 25, 2025
If the Celtics get a chance to trade for Durant, it could change the dynamics of the league.
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Reign also writes NBA and WNBA news updates on Sportskeeda. He started as a feature writer for AirAlamo, an NBA website that covers the San Antonio Spurs. Some of his work can also be seen on Valley of the Suns, a Phoenix Suns-centric website, where he served as a contributing writer.
