Is this the kind of thing a team leader should be saying?

[Real Men Wear Green]

Say what you need to say.
(https://www.si.com/nba/mics-caught-kevin-durants-defeated-message-about-luka-doncic-during-lakers-suns)

"We're not going to stop [Doncic] from scoring, bro," Durant said on the bench. "We can't come into a game and just stop their best players from scoring. We gotta just make it tough on him. We can't give him 12 assists and 40 points though."

In the case of Phoenix it's true, they don't have the personnel to defend Doncic. But it still sounds defeated. Even if it isn't fully logical shouldn't someone be stepping up to the challenge? I guarantee you that Jaylen Brown did not have this kind of attitude in the Finals last year. Didn't say anything disrespectful but he wanted the challenge, beyond this kind of uninspiring quote Brown believed that he himself could keep Doncic from taking over the game.

And I could swear there was a time when Durant was a great defender... it was before he tore his Achilles but I wonder if he was more prideful about it would he be better at it? Still has his length and more quickness than you normally get from a7-footer. If he was more about getting in the opposing player's face, couldn't that make a difference?

Just some minor venting. I feel like we've watched a top 5 talent lead to a top 20 career. Nothing to be ashamed of, just could have been better.

[RRR3]

What did he say that was wrong

[SouBeachTalents]

There's so much wrong with this thread. You can't compare KD's situation to Brown's when he has Tatum/Jrue/White to help out defensively on Luka if need be, while the Suns legitimately have nobody.

Also, expecting a 36 year old KD to try to defend a top 5 player while also being his teams primary scorer is frankly unrealistic.

And this one is more subjective, but I genuinely don't see KD honestly being even close to a top 5 talent ever.

[Real Men Wear Green]

What did he say that was wrong
Factually? Nothing. But it's not good leadership. Whether or not they have someone that is ideal to stop Doncic they need to stop him to win the game. They need someone with a Tony Allen mentality that will step in there and take on the challenge. They need someone that gives irrational confidence, not rational losing.

[Real Men Wear Green]

There's so much wrong with this thread. You can't compare KD's situation to Brown's when he has Tatum/Jrue/White to help out defensively on Luka if need be, while the Suns legitimately have nobody.

Also, expecting a 36 year old KD to try to defend a top 5 player while also being his teams primary scorer is frankly unrealistic.

And this one is more subjective, but I genuinely don't see KD honestly being even close to a top 5 talent ever. Celtics didn't really help Brown until Doncic got into layup range. The other guys would guard him when switches forced it but the defence worked because they didn't have to leave guys open. No question that these Suns can't defend like the Celtics but the lack of defensive leadership makes them hopeless vs Doncic and that shouldn't be acceptable.

[Im so nba'd out]

I've been telling yall for years KD is not a leader. N no one listens. He is a weapon in an offense....That is all... He cant lead and will never be able to lead. All he does is make whatever team he's on better. You weaponize him in an offense...Thats where he is at his best.


Just like i've been telling yall for years that Booker is at his best in a KLAY THOMPSON ROLE....He should not be running the offense....he should never ever....be running an nba offense. If he would simply accept what he is, he would probably have been on a dynasty team by now working on his 3rd or 4th ring. He is a 3rd option on a championship team. His Team USA role is his natural role thats why he always beats everyone out for that role in team usa scrimmages. He is world class as a Klay



The suns dont know what the fk they are doing this never had a chance @ working.

[tontoz]

It's already been established that KD is a great player but not a leader at all. He's admitted that he doesn't want that responsibility.

[SouBeachTalents]

I've been telling yall for years KD is not a leader. N no one listens. He is a weapon in an offense....That is all... He cant lead and will never be able to lead. All he does is make whatever team he's on better. You weaponize him in an offense...Thats where he is at his best.


Just like i've been telling yall for years that Booker is at his best in a KLAY THOMPSON ROLE....He should not be running the offense....he should never ever....be running an nba offense. If he would simply accept what he is, he would probably have been on a dynasty team by now working on his 3rd or 4th ring. He is a 3rd option on a championship team. His Team USA role is his natural role thats why he always beats everyone out for that role in team usa scrimmages. He is world class as a Klay



The suns dont know what the fk they are doing this never had a chance @ working.
Nah, Booker could have absolutely filled Siakam/Middleton/Murray's role and won as 2nd option on those teams.

[FKAri]

When KD's unhappy it's the most contagious negative vibe from an NBA superstar I've ever seen.

[highwhey]

well that's the biggest issue with this suns team, they have 90% of their talent concentrated in 2 players that can't/won't/aren't able to lead. it's no surprise that booker never made the playoffs before or after cp3, despite having kevin durant.

[iamgine]

It's a cliche. I've seen many great defenders when interviewed they say the exact same thing. "You're not going to stop Kobe/Michael/Dirk/Lebron, you just gotta make it tough on him."

[Lebron23]

He is not a good leader