Spencer Haywood on Kevin Durant: 'I wouldn't be surprised if I see him in a Sonics uniform again'
Spencer Haywood, NBA Hall of Famer and former Sonic: Me and Durant are still talking about Seattle. We talked about it at the All-Star game [this year]. I can’t go any further – there’s some sneaky stuff going on that I can’t talk about because it’s private. But I wouldn’t be surprised if I see him in a Sonics uniform [again]. I was with his mother at the All-Star game – with him and his mother, everybody. I’m just saying.
Source: HoopsHype
Source: HoopsHype
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
“They were doubling at halfcourt.”
Kevin Durant on how OKC defended him as he finished with 20 points in #Suns loss.
“I’m trying to figure out ways to get going. It’s hard to get going in my spots when as soon as I dribble the ball, somebody coming to double team.” #ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/SOGJOslT89 – 1:23 AM
“They were doubling at halfcourt.”
Kevin Durant on how OKC defended him as he finished with 20 points in #Suns loss.
“I’m trying to figure out ways to get going. It’s hard to get going in my spots when as soon as I dribble the ball, somebody coming to double team.” #ThunderUp pic.twitter.com/SOGJOslT89 – 1:23 AM
Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
“Trying to make the risky play sometimes, cross court passes.”
Kevin Durant on 22 #Suns turnovers that led to 31 OKC points.
Thunder lead #NBA in forcing turnovers 15.7 a game.
#Suns 27th in turnovers at 15.0 and points allowed off turnovers at 18.3.
We’ve got to be better.” pic.twitter.com/9DUqKyqtet – 1:16 AM
“Trying to make the risky play sometimes, cross court passes.”
Kevin Durant on 22 #Suns turnovers that led to 31 OKC points.
Thunder lead #NBA in forcing turnovers 15.7 a game.
#Suns 27th in turnovers at 15.0 and points allowed off turnovers at 18.3.
We’ve got to be better.” pic.twitter.com/9DUqKyqtet – 1:16 AM
Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
“For me, I’m just trying to figure out how to get going. It’s hard to get going in my spots when, as soon as I dribble the ball, somebody’s coming to double-team”
I asked Kevin Durant about what he’s seeing with the constant double-teams and trying to operate out of them: pic.twitter.com/fhtOX6ZwqS – 1:09 AM
“For me, I’m just trying to figure out how to get going. It’s hard to get going in my spots when, as soon as I dribble the ball, somebody’s coming to double-team”
I asked Kevin Durant about what he’s seeing with the constant double-teams and trying to operate out of them: pic.twitter.com/fhtOX6ZwqS – 1:09 AM
Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
“We had spurts, but it’s not a good feeling not to be consistent.”
Kevin Durant after #Suns 118-110 loss to #Thunder. pic.twitter.com/EbyCTOq7zV – 1:06 AM
“We had spurts, but it’s not a good feeling not to be consistent.”
Kevin Durant after #Suns 118-110 loss to #Thunder. pic.twitter.com/EbyCTOq7zV – 1:06 AM
Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
“They fouled the shit out of Kevin Durant.” Frank Vogel. #Suns pic.twitter.com/adaw0x3Lzz – 12:27 AM
“They fouled the shit out of Kevin Durant.” Frank Vogel. #Suns pic.twitter.com/adaw0x3Lzz – 12:27 AM
Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Shout out to Aaron Wiggins.
He closed the game and made some big plays down the stretch. Wiggs had 4 steals and a block on KD.
Wiggins was a game-high +18 in 22 minutes. – 12:25 AM
Shout out to Aaron Wiggins.
He closed the game and made some big plays down the stretch. Wiggs had 4 steals and a block on KD.
Wiggins was a game-high +18 in 22 minutes. – 12:25 AM
Kellan Olson @KellanOlson
Frank Vogel said the Suns have to be better with turnovers but then noted “they fouled the shit out of Kevin Durant all night.” Wants the league to look at it. – 12:24 AM
Frank Vogel said the Suns have to be better with turnovers but then noted “they fouled the shit out of Kevin Durant all night.” Wants the league to look at it. – 12:24 AM
Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
Frank Vogel on the Suns’ turnovers tonight: “We gotta be better. I’ll start by saying they fouled the shit outta Kevin Durant all night.”
Added later the Suns didn’t handle pressure well and they’ve struggled with TOs all season – 12:24 AM
Frank Vogel on the Suns’ turnovers tonight: “We gotta be better. I’ll start by saying they fouled the shit outta Kevin Durant all night.”
Added later the Suns didn’t handle pressure well and they’ve struggled with TOs all season – 12:24 AM
Clemente Almanza @CAlmanza1007
FINAL: Thunder 118, Suns 110
SGA – 35 points, 9 assists, 8 rebounds
JDub – 22 points, 4 rebounds
Chet – 14 points, 9 rebounds
Beal – 31 points, 6 assists
Durant – 20 points
Nurkic – 14 points, 31 rebounds
OKC is 42-18 – 12:05 AM
FINAL: Thunder 118, Suns 110
SGA – 35 points, 9 assists, 8 rebounds
JDub – 22 points, 4 rebounds
Chet – 14 points, 9 rebounds
Beal – 31 points, 6 assists
Durant – 20 points
Nurkic – 14 points, 31 rebounds
OKC is 42-18 – 12:05 AM
Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
Final: OKC 118, PHX 110
Beal: 31 Pts, 6 Ast, 10-14 FG
Durant: 20 Pts, 6-15 FG
Nurkic: 14 Pts, 31 Reb, 4 Ast, 7-16 FG
Gilgeous-Alexander: 35 Pts, 9 Ast, 8 Reb, 15-27 FG
Suns gave up 30 points off 22 TOs, OKC only gave up 9 points off 6 TOs – 12:04 AM
Final: OKC 118, PHX 110
Beal: 31 Pts, 6 Ast, 10-14 FG
Durant: 20 Pts, 6-15 FG
Nurkic: 14 Pts, 31 Reb, 4 Ast, 7-16 FG
Gilgeous-Alexander: 35 Pts, 9 Ast, 8 Reb, 15-27 FG
Suns gave up 30 points off 22 TOs, OKC only gave up 9 points off 6 TOs – 12:04 AM
Royce Young @royceyoung
Make it 45 games with at least 30 for SGA. Thunder record in a season is 47 (Kevin Durant). – 11:52 PM
Make it 45 games with at least 30 for SGA. Thunder record in a season is 47 (Kevin Durant). – 11:52 PM
Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Durant, Eubanks and Allen in for Lee, Gordon and Nurkic. Tie game with 5:36 left. pic.twitter.com/Pq9nZs8lN1 – 11:44 PM
Durant, Eubanks and Allen in for Lee, Gordon and Nurkic. Tie game with 5:36 left. pic.twitter.com/Pq9nZs8lN1 – 11:44 PM
Clemente Almanza @CAlmanza1007
End of 3Q: Thunder 89, Suns 85
SGA – 24 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds
JDub – 14 points
Chet – 11 points, 7 rebounds
Beal – 23 points, 5 assists
Durant – 20 points
Nurkic – 10 points, 25 rebounds – 11:27 PM
End of 3Q: Thunder 89, Suns 85
SGA – 24 points, 8 assists, 6 rebounds
JDub – 14 points
Chet – 11 points, 7 rebounds
Beal – 23 points, 5 assists
Durant – 20 points
Nurkic – 10 points, 25 rebounds – 11:27 PM
Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
End of 3Q: OKC 89, PHX 85
Beal: 23 Pts, 5 Ast, 7-10 FG
Durant: 20 Pts, 6-11 FG
Nurkic: 10 Pts, 25 Reb, 5-14 FG
Gilgeous-Alexander: 24 Pts, 8 Ast, 7 Reb, 10-20 FG
Suns close 3Q on a 25-5 run – 11:27 PM
End of 3Q: OKC 89, PHX 85
Beal: 23 Pts, 5 Ast, 7-10 FG
Durant: 20 Pts, 6-11 FG
Nurkic: 10 Pts, 25 Reb, 5-14 FG
Gilgeous-Alexander: 24 Pts, 8 Ast, 7 Reb, 10-20 FG
Suns close 3Q on a 25-5 run – 11:27 PM
Rylan Stiles @Rylan_Stiles
Lu Dort splashes a 3, then later gets KD to push him out of frustration for an offensive foul. – 11:26 PM
Lu Dort splashes a 3, then later gets KD to push him out of frustration for an offensive foul. – 11:26 PM
Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
That corner 3 is the shot Beal has to take and make.
#Suns down 66-52 at half as O’Neale hits deep one near end of 1st half.
PHX: Beal 17, Durant 10.
OKC: Gilgeous-Alexander 18, Dort 10.
Turnovers PHX: 11 led to 18 OKC points. OKC 3 turnovers led to 7 PHX points. #ThunderUp – 10:47 PM
That corner 3 is the shot Beal has to take and make.
#Suns down 66-52 at half as O’Neale hits deep one near end of 1st half.
PHX: Beal 17, Durant 10.
OKC: Gilgeous-Alexander 18, Dort 10.
Turnovers PHX: 11 led to 18 OKC points. OKC 3 turnovers led to 7 PHX points. #ThunderUp – 10:47 PM
Clemente Almanza @CAlmanza1007
HALF: Thunder 66, Suns 52
SGA – 18 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds
Dort – 10 points, 3 rebounds
Chet – 9 points, 4 rebounds
Beal – 17 points, 3 assists
Durant – 10 points, 2 assists
Nurkic – 6 points, 16 rebounds – 10:44 PM
HALF: Thunder 66, Suns 52
SGA – 18 points, 4 assists, 4 rebounds
Dort – 10 points, 3 rebounds
Chet – 9 points, 4 rebounds
Beal – 17 points, 3 assists
Durant – 10 points, 2 assists
Nurkic – 6 points, 16 rebounds – 10:44 PM
Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
Halftime: OKC 66, PHX 52
Beal: 17 Pts, 3 Ast, 5-8 FG
Nurkic: 6 Pts, 16 Reb, 3 Ast, 3-9 FG
Durant: 10 Pts, 2-7 FG
Gilgeous-Alexander: 18-4-4, 8-16 FG – 10:43 PM
Halftime: OKC 66, PHX 52
Beal: 17 Pts, 3 Ast, 5-8 FG
Nurkic: 6 Pts, 16 Reb, 3 Ast, 3-9 FG
Durant: 10 Pts, 2-7 FG
Gilgeous-Alexander: 18-4-4, 8-16 FG – 10:43 PM
Ryan Blackburn @NBABlackburn
Having to go KD at 5 and it looking THIS bad is a rough look for the Suns rotation, again. – 10:38 PM
Having to go KD at 5 and it looking THIS bad is a rough look for the Suns rotation, again. – 10:38 PM
Brandon Rahbar @BrandonRahbar
Lu Dort is a special defender.
Dort is 6’4 and truly guards 1-4.
Lu is defending Kevin Durant tonight.
Mark Jones: “He’s in KD’s face like acne right now.” – 10:37 PM
Lu Dort is a special defender.
Dort is 6’4 and truly guards 1-4.
Lu is defending Kevin Durant tonight.
Mark Jones: “He’s in KD’s face like acne right now.” – 10:37 PM
Kellan Olson @KellanOlson
With Booker out, Durant plays the whole first quarter. Early sub out for Nurkic allowed these Beal/Nurkic minutes to exist and they have gone fairly well. Great half for both guys. – 10:26 PM
With Booker out, Durant plays the whole first quarter. Early sub out for Nurkic allowed these Beal/Nurkic minutes to exist and they have gone fairly well. Great half for both guys. – 10:26 PM
Clemente Almanza @CAlmanza1007
End of 1Q: Thunder 28, Suns 24
SGA – 10 points, 2 assists, 2 rebounds
Chet – 5 points, 3 rebounds
Joe – 6 points
Durant – 6 points, 2 assists
Nurkic – 4 points, 12 rebounds – 10:09 PM
End of 1Q: Thunder 28, Suns 24
SGA – 10 points, 2 assists, 2 rebounds
Chet – 5 points, 3 rebounds
Joe – 6 points
Durant – 6 points, 2 assists
Nurkic – 4 points, 12 rebounds – 10:09 PM
Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
End of 1Q: OKC 28, PHX 24
Durant: 6 Pts, 2 Ast, 2-6 FG
Nurkic: 4 Pts, 12 Reb, 2 Ast, 2-6 FG
Beal: 4 Pts, 2-4 FG
Gilgeous-Alexander: 10 Pts, 4-8 FG
Thunder close 1Q on 24-7 run – 10:09 PM
End of 1Q: OKC 28, PHX 24
Durant: 6 Pts, 2 Ast, 2-6 FG
Nurkic: 4 Pts, 12 Reb, 2 Ast, 2-6 FG
Beal: 4 Pts, 2-4 FG
Gilgeous-Alexander: 10 Pts, 4-8 FG
Thunder close 1Q on 24-7 run – 10:09 PM
Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
O’Neale 3 as shot clock expired off Durant pass. #Suns up 10-2. Timeout OKC with 8:59 left in 1st quarter. – 9:48 PM
O’Neale 3 as shot clock expired off Durant pass. #Suns up 10-2. Timeout OKC with 8:59 left in 1st quarter. – 9:48 PM
Kellan Olson @KellanOlson
Beal on SGA
Durant on Williams
O’Neale on Holmgren
Suns switching lots early.
Dort on Durant
Williams on Beal – 9:45 PM
Beal on SGA
Durant on Williams
O’Neale on Holmgren
Suns switching lots early.
Dort on Durant
Williams on Beal – 9:45 PM
Duane Rankin @DuaneRankin
Kevin Durant had 6 turnovers and Devin Booker had 5 in Saturday’s loss to #Rockets.
Why?
“Trying too hard to play the right way. Sometimes you really emphasize the extra pass and you can overpass.” Frank Vogel.
#Suns 25th in #NBA in turnovers.
“Attack to score and then read.” pic.twitter.com/Bb4AdIDnBi – 9:41 PM
Kevin Durant had 6 turnovers and Devin Booker had 5 in Saturday’s loss to #Rockets.
Why?
“Trying too hard to play the right way. Sometimes you really emphasize the extra pass and you can overpass.” Frank Vogel.
#Suns 25th in #NBA in turnovers.
“Attack to score and then read.” pic.twitter.com/Bb4AdIDnBi – 9:41 PM
Mike Trudell @LakersReporter
Reflecting upon LeBron’s 40,000 and counting points, and the immense challenge it will be for anybody … Durant, Luka, Edwards, Wemby … to catch him:
nba.com/lakers/news/le… – 5:02 PM
Reflecting upon LeBron’s 40,000 and counting points, and the immense challenge it will be for anybody … Durant, Luka, Edwards, Wemby … to catch him:
nba.com/lakers/news/le… – 5:02 PM
Kendrick Perkins @KendrickPerkins
I’ve got Allen, KD, and Holmgren to combine for over 27.5 rebounds. Who’s riding on @ESPNBet?? #ad pic.twitter.com/8CcI8w1Dc0 – 1:51 PM
I’ve got Allen, KD, and Holmgren to combine for over 27.5 rebounds. Who’s riding on @ESPNBet?? #ad pic.twitter.com/8CcI8w1Dc0 – 1:51 PM
Gerald Bourguet @GeraldBourguet
Kevin Durant on Amar’e Stoudemire making the Suns Ring of Honor: “He’s left his mark here in Phoenix and the NBA as a whole. I love seeing guys get honored. It’s something that’s gonna last for life. He’s gonna be in those rafters forever, and his family can appreciate that” pic.twitter.com/7XjOIhHooh – 12:05 PM
Kevin Durant on Amar’e Stoudemire making the Suns Ring of Honor: “He’s left his mark here in Phoenix and the NBA as a whole. I love seeing guys get honored. It’s something that’s gonna last for life. He’s gonna be in those rafters forever, and his family can appreciate that” pic.twitter.com/7XjOIhHooh – 12:05 PM
Jorge Sierra @hoopshype
LeBron is on pace to score his 50,000th point in the NBA (between regular season and playoffs) next year.
Among active players, KD is closest… 15,000 points behind him.
All-time rankings 👇
hoopshype.com/lists/top-scor… – 11:33 AM
LeBron is on pace to score his 50,000th point in the NBA (between regular season and playoffs) next year.
Among active players, KD is closest… 15,000 points behind him.
All-time rankings 👇
hoopshype.com/lists/top-scor… – 11:33 AM
More on this storyline
Spencer Haywood: The Sonics brought me in to be with Durant when he was drafted when he was introduced in Seattle. They brought me in and I was with him onstage and the whole deal. Talking to him, like, “Welcome to Seattle and welcome to the best franchise in the NBA.” I said, “Man, you’re going to love this city. I love this place.” -via HoopsHype / March 4, 2024
Spencer Haywood: I watched the whole [2007-08] season. … I was like, “Woah man, we got Kevin Durant up here, this is so beautiful!” Next thing they were leaving. And guess who I saw at the All-Star game [that season]. Clay Bennett. God! No disrespect to him but, you know, he did what he needed to do to get Kevin to Oklahoma City. We allowed him to take it. Now, I have a little withdrawal when I drink Starbucks. -via HoopsHype / March 4, 2024
Percy Allen, former SuperSonics beat writer for The Seattle Times: In hindsight, I think we see it now. The blueprint was clear. What Clay Bennet was trying to do. They weren’t putting a whole lot of money into the team. They weren’t going to invest major salaries. They didn’t surround this rookie with any high-priced vets. It was a one-year plan. They just wanted to get through the year, get to the end of that lease, get to next summer, and force the city’s hand. They had another year left on the lease but they were thinking they could break it with a year left and come to some type of settlement and that’s exactly what happened. They had 31 wins with guys who were trying to win [the year before]. And then they finished last with a team that was really young. Sometimes teams take a step back. But this was different. This was not a step back. This was a step in a new direction. -via HoopsHype / March 4, 2024