PHOENIX — The NBA world — and the Phoenix Suns specifically — are gearing up for the opening of coaching camp within the subsequent two weeks (Suns Media Day is scheduled for Sept. 30).
It appears the efficiency of the Suns’ celebrity duo of Kevin Durant and Devin Booker has modified some minds heading into the season – even ESPN’s high analyst, Tim Legler.
Legler lamented the Suns’ prospects this season throughout a section on “NBA Immediately” — the place he expressed that Crew USA’s Olympic run — led by the Phoenix franchise’s star duo — may serve the Suns properly within the 2024-25 season.
He started by briefly congratulating Kevin Durant on his function as a backup earlier than providing constructive phrases to his celebrity teammate.
“However Devin Booker, I feel the way in which he is perceived at the moment, Booker had an enormous efficiency in Phoenix, they’d a very disappointing 12 months final 12 months/common season. And clearly getting swept within the playoffs and having a training change, it could not have been worse. Devin Booker performs a task on this crew the place he will get quite a lot of credit score internally – from the teaching employees, from his teammates – for being the unsung MVP (of Crew USA) – to cite Steve Kerr,” Legler mentioned.
“That should actually make Devin Booker really feel good, as a result of he’s thought-about a winner.
“Kevin Durant has been nice. They arrive in and are going to play 41-plus video games collectively this 12 months with Bradley Beal. I like a number of the new items they’ve added. I feel Phoenix has essentially the most to achieve from a crew standpoint of these star gamers that performed on the Olympic crew.”
Which gamers from the 2024 USA Basketball Crew will proceed their success within the upcoming NBA season? 🤔 @LegsESPN mentioned to be careful for KD, D-E book and the Suns 👀 pic.twitter.com/xm1CtgcJ2K
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) September 10, 2024
Booker and Durant shone on Crew USA – each enjoying key roles at key moments en path to America’s fifth consecutive gold medal.
The celebrities have strengthened the chemistry that has constructed between them over the previous 12 months and a half, whereas Booker has confirmed he will be among the many most versatile gamers within the NBA with a view to doing no matter it takes to win.
The Suns have made important modifications to their teaching employees – retaining solely David Fizdale from the final employees – and have made delicate however important roster modifications in hopes that new signings/draft picks can higher match the core of the roster.
Booker and Durant stay two top-10 abilities within the league, so the crew probably will not go any additional than they take them — however the brand new roster building could be higher suited to climate regular-season storms.
Legler is broadly thought to be one of many smartest analysts within the basketball world, so his optimistic nature about the way forward for the franchise may very properly be rewarded within the close to future.
