When Draymond Green heard certain remarks regarding Kevin Durant made by Phoenix Suns general manager James Jones, he was perplexed. Jones stated that since the Suns were swept, no team has been able to fully utilize Durant, and they would be the first to do it. Green sharply informed him that the Golden State Warriors were the ones who really pulled it off in response.
On The Draymond Green Show, Green stated, “James Jones was on a team that lost in the NBA Finals to Kevin Durant, when Kevin Durant was with the Golden State Warriors, in 2017.” Kevin Durant averaged 35 points, eight rebounds, five assists, while shooting 93% from the free throw line, 55% from the field, and 47 from three.
“And when you got your a** bust, like the Cavs got their a** bust,” Green continued. “I have a hard time believing that James Jones — after sitting there on the bench, getting in a game every now and then to see if he can hit a three — could then come out and say, ‘No one has been able to maximize Kevin Durant.’
Green said the Warriors allowed Durant to do the only thing he wanted to do, play basketball. He didn’t have to worry about leading a team and could just focus on his game. Green also felt that the Warriors maximized Durant on the defensive end, as he claimed the 14-time All-Star was one of the best rim protectors in the league during his time with the franchise.
Draymond thought one of the big reasons the Suns failed to get the best out of his former teammate was because they didn’t have a point guard. The 34-year-old told Jones that he needs to bring one in this offseason.
I agree with Green that not having a point guard did hurt Durant, and the Suns as a whole as well. Devin Booker and Bradley Beal are great secondary playmakers but the Suns had the two of them take turns trying to run the offense and it just didn’t work.
As for Draymond’s claim that the Warriors maximized Durant, perhaps they did. He played some of his best basketball during his time with the franchise from 2016 to 2019 and won two titles to go with two Finals MVPs.
