Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green has been enjoying his offseason, taking shots at the Phoenix Suns and their general manager, James Jones. Jones had made comments in an exit interview about maximizing superstar Kevin Durant, which Green took offense to. Green pointed out that Durant had only found postseason success with the Warriors, winning back-to-back NBA Finals and Finals MVP awards. He criticized the Suns for not maximizing Durant’s potential and offered some advice on how they could do so, including getting a point guard and putting Durant in positions to score.
Green highlighted the success Durant had with the Warriors, where the team went 182-64 during his three-year tenure, making the NBA Finals all three times and winning two championships. Despite injuries to Durant and Klay Thompson, the Warriors were able to maximize Durant’s talents and achieve team success. Durant has continued to perform at a high level since leaving the Warriors, posting impressive statistics and making the All-Star team regularly. However, the Suns have not been able to replicate the same success with Durant on their roster, leading to speculation that Durant may seek a new team in the offseason.
There have been reports suggesting that Durant could return to the Warriors, where he experienced the most success in his career. Green pointed out that if the Suns want to prevent Durant from requesting a trade, they need to study how the Warriors were able to maximize Durant’s abilities. Green’s advice to Jones and the Suns is to focus on getting a point guard, putting Durant in scoring positions, and alleviating some of the pressure on him. If the Suns can figure out how to maximize Durant’s talents, they may be able to find the same success that Durant had with the Warriors and keep him on their roster for the long term.
Green’s criticism of Jones and the Suns reflects his belief that they have not been able to fully utilize Durant’s talents and achieve the same level of success that he had with the Warriors. By highlighting Durant’s success with the Warriors, Green underscores the importance of understanding how to maximize a player’s abilities within a team’s system. If the Suns want to keep Durant and improve their chances of postseason success, they will need to take Green’s advice to heart and make the necessary adjustments to their roster and playing style.
