Bleacher Report Gives Bold Prediction on Kevin Durant
PHOENIX -- We're two games into the 2023-24 regular season, and Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant has been the sole member of the team's big three to play in each contest as Devin Booker and Bradley Beal have dealt with respective injuries.
Durant passed Hakeem Olajuwon last night for 12th place on the NBA's all-time scoring list. Through two games, Durant is averaging 28.5 points per night on 42% shooting.
Can he keep that pace up?
Bleacher Report gave bold predictions for each squad, and their Suns "unhinged" take was Durant finishing the season averaging less than 25 points per night:
Bleacher Report Gives Bold Prediction on Kevin Durant
Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant will look to keep his scoring form in 2023-24.
Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
"Kevin Durant is indisputably one of the greatest pure scorers the NBA has ever seen, as evidenced by the fact that he's averaged at least 25.0 points per game every year since 2007-08, when he put up 20.3 as a rookie for the Seattle SuperSonics," said B/R.
"The Sonics! That gives you an idea of how long KD has been piling up points.
"Durant is 35 and coming off yet another injury-interrupted campaign. Since sitting out all of 2019-20 with a torn Achilles, he's played in approximately 56.0 percent of his team's regular-season games. Though he averaged 29.1 points last season, it's more reasonable to expect shot volume in line with what he saw with Golden State from 2016-17 to 2018-19, when he averaged 25.1, 26.4 and 26.0 points per game, respectively.
"Devin Booker and Bradley Beal might not be as offensively dominant as the prime Splash Brothers were, which could lead to Durant shouldering a slightly bigger load than he did as a Dub. But Booker and Beal should be available more often than James Harden and Kyrie Irving were when KD was in Brooklyn, which will prevent Durant from having to go supernova so often.
"Plus, the Phoenix Suns are all-in on a championship pursuit. They won't push KD to play big minutes until it's necessary in the playoffs.
"Let's settle on Durant playing 53 games with an average of 24.4 points per contest."
