NBA: ‘Nervous’ Kevin Durant excels in Suns debut with 23 points-Sports activities Information , Firstpost

Charlotte, North Carolina: New workforce, identical Kevin Durant.

The Durant period in Phoenix acquired off to stable begin Wednesday evening with the 13-time NBA All-Star scoring 23 factors on 10-of-15 taking pictures, including an explosive offensive aspect to an already harmful offense in his Suns debut.

Durant, enjoying for his fourth workforce within the final seven seasons, added six rebounds and two blocks as Phoenix beat the Charlotte Hornets 105-91.

“I’ve performed in nearly a thousand basketball video games, however as we speak I used to be nervous,” Durant mentioned. “It’s a brand new workforce, new group, and I need to play laborious for them and be coachable. So, I used to be desirous about all that as we speak.”

Durant mentioned regardless of his success, he nonetheless looks like he has one thing to show to his teammates and coaches. New workforce, identical Kevin Durant.

“I really feel there may be stress on me and who I’m daily,” Durant mentioned. “I put that on me.”

Devin Booker appeared to feed off Durant, scoring 37 factors within the win.

“He’s only a pure basketball participant,” Durant mentioned about Booker.

Coming off a knee harm that has saved him out of motion since 8 January, Durant was restricted to 27 minutes whereas on a playing-time restriction.

Sporting No. 35, Durant was greeted by a loud ovation as he was launched on the Spectrum Middle and followers held up cell telephones straining to report video of him in his white jersey.

He missed a foul line jumper on his workforce’s first possession, however scored his first basket with the Suns just a few moments afterward a driving left-handed layup. Durant adopted with a block on Hornets rookie middle Mark Williams after which knocked down a 3-pointer from the left wing as Phoenix bolted to a 9-0 lead it will by no means give up.

He wasn’t good in his return, turning the ball over twice, together with as soon as when he dribbled off his personal leg whereas driving to the left.

“We scripted quite a bit in apply however while you get out on the ground it’s a completely totally different deal,” Suns coach Monty Williams mentioned. “So there have been some hiccups as to what play we have been operating and that form of factor. However it’s fairly cool to have the ability to give a man the ball and he can get to a spot and get off a very good shot.”

The 13-time All-Star was acquired from the Brooklyn Nets in a blockbuster deal wherein the Suns parted methods with Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Jae Crowder and 4 first-round picks. He was the final of the massive three to be traded away by Brooklyn, becoming a member of James Harden and Kyrie Irving earlier than him.

Like Durant’s earlier stops in Seattle, Oklahoma Metropolis, Golden State and Brooklyn, the expectations are excessive — and there’s a totally different degree of pleasure together with his arrival.

“You’re feeling it,” Williams mentioned. “You’re feeling it on the (workforce) lodge when individuals are lined up outdoors. You’re feeling it within the fitness center. … Yeah, I really feel it. I discovered a very long time in the past that stress and expectations are a privilege and you must embrace these issues as a result of that’s the place the great things is.”

Williams admitted that something lower than an NBA championship this season would really feel like a disappointment, however added that’s true of any of the league’s high groups.

Durant’s has been via lots throughout his 15-year NBA profession, however that is the primary time he’s joined a brand new workforce halfway via the season.

The Suns hope Durant’s addition will get them over the hump after shedding to the Milwaukee Bucks in six video games within the 2021 NBA Finals.

The Suns (34-29) are in fourth place within the Western Convention.

Williams expects Durant may have a significant constructive influence on his new teammates, which embody Booker, Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton.

“He’s greater than a generational expertise, he’s a historic expertise,” Williams mentioned. “From that standpoint you need to use your creativeness, simply from a scoring standpoint. However I’ve tried to have an open thoughts about it to not field him in and say ‘he’s going to be this, this and that.’ So I’m wanting ahead to it as a lot as all people else is.”

Hornets coach Steve Clifford mentioned the Suns are going to be a tricky out within the playoffs.

“They now have the primary factor that you must must win shut video games within the playoffs – they’ve two guys who can draw assist with out the help of the pick-and-roll,” Clifford mentioned. “So if you happen to simply give Booker the ball, you must assist. You possibly can’t guard him one-on-one. For those who give Kevin the ball, no one can guard him one-on-one. No person. You then throw within the Chris Paul pick-and-roll piece with Ayton, the way in which he’s grown.

“Playoff basketball goes to return all the way down to, and it’s all the time been the identical factor, what number of guys on the court docket can get a shot on their very own, after which what can they do once they draw assist? And so they’re two of the perfect guys within the league. It actually places them within the dialog.”

Durant has spent the previous couple of weeks attending to know his new teammates on a private degree, in addition to how they function on the ground whereas principally watching from the sideline as he recovers from a sprained knee that has saved him out since 8 January.

He mentioned his knee has been pain-free for the final couple of weeks.

“Man, I missed the sport,” Durant mentioned, “I’m excited. Wanting ahead to the subsequent recreation.”

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