Even after winning a pair of rings and a number of accolades in the league, Kevin Durant’s legacy is still isn’t as great as other stars before him. But according to NBA analyst Ric Bucher, the Phoenix Suns forward’s reputation isn’t as great as it looks on paper.
Durant first entered the league as the Seattle Supersonics’ second overall pick in the 2007 Draft. From there, the future two-time Finals MVP dominated in his first campaign with averages of 20.3 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. He would eventually win Rookie of the Year, one of the many awards Durant obtained during his illustrious career.
The following season, the franchise transitioned into the Oklahoma City Thunder and would serve as home to Durant, Russell Westbrook, and James Harden. The trio reached the NBA Finals in 2012, but failed to win a ring against a LeBron James-led Miami Heat team.
The All-Star forward then signed with the Golden State Warriors in a move many criticized as weak. And after winning two rings with the Stephen Curry-led squad, Durant moved on to play for the Brooklyn Nets in 2019. He would then force his way to the Phoenix Suns and eventually form another All-Star trio with Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, but proved to be a disappointment after Anthony a swept them in the first round recently.
Ric Bucher Describes Phoenix Suns Star Kevin Durant as a Booster Rocket
While many personalities have given their take on Durant’s legacy, especially after Minnesota swept the Suns recently, Bucher’s assessment of the two-time champion is standing out. In a video shared by Speak on X:
.@RicBucher: Kevin Durant is a booster rocket.
“If you have the spaceship and you can get to the moon, KD can take you to Mars, but if you don’t have the rocket ship, then you’ve got this really expensive booster that doesn’t necessarily take you anywhere.” pic.twitter.com/nCLsvirxk3
— Speak (@SpeakOnFS1) April 29, 2024
Durant’s last stint as a Net and his recent one in Phoenix has been criticized due to him playing with All-Star pieces around him, but failing to make it far in the playoffs. Moreover, the Suns star hasn’t achieved a meaningful playoff run ever since he left the Warriors in 2019.
It still remains to be seen whether Durant can rehabilitate his image before his career ends. What’s certain, though, is that he needs to win a ring again if he wants to prove Bucher wrong in his booster rocket assessment of him.
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