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3 goals for the Phoenix Suns’ Kevin Durant for the 2023-24 season

By Luke Duffy

PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MAY 11: Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns looks on before game six of the Western Conference Semifinal Playoffs against the Denver Nuggets at Footprint Center on May 11, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PHOENIX, ARIZONA - MAY 11: Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns looks on before game six of the Western Conference Semifinal Playoffs against the Denver Nuggets at Footprint Center on May 11, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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OAKLAND, CA – SEPTEMBER 24: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors poses with two Larry O’Brien NBA Championship Trophies and two NBA Finals MVP trophies. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – SEPTEMBER 24: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors poses with two Larry O’Brien NBA Championship Trophies and two NBA Finals MVP trophies. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

3 goals for the Phoenix Suns’ Kevin Durant for the 2023-24 season.

1. Win an NBA championship

This is it. This is the reason Durant was brought to Arizona. The Suns have made it to the NBA Finals three times, and on every occasion they have come up short. Durant has been on both sides of the coin, having won those two titles with the Warriors, but also lost one with them as well (he missed essentially all of that Toronto Raptors series after the achilles tear).

There was also the loss in 2012 to the Miami Heat while with the Oklahoma City Thunder, and a championship with the Suns would put him 3-2 all-time in the finals as well. It does not matter how Durant achieves this goal with this group, this is the sole reason that the front office went and got him.

The case could also be made that next season will represent his best chance to do this with this franchise. The penalties that the new CBA will impose on the Suns as time goes on will make it harder for them to build out a roster around their star players, but it will also stop them for trading them down the road to save money because dumping of large deals is also not allowed.

Next. A thank you to Chris Paul for all he did for the Suns. dark

So this is the wagon he has chosen to hitch himself to for the last remaining great years of his career. Durant could do a lot worse of course, and Ayton may be the one last domino to fall before the Suns really do lock themselves into a core group of players to try and get them that one final step of the journey.

But this has to end with Durant lifting the Larry O’Brien trophy, and in all likelihood the finals MVP too, unless Durant goes to a place we saw glimpses off during the playoffs last season. He hasn’t put up 30 a game since 2013-14, and his assist numbers are going to have to increase beyond the 4.3 of his career. Brings the Suns a first title though, and what can the haters say then?

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