Kevin Durant unleashed a digital volley at critics before quickly scrubbing the evidence from social media on Tuesday. The forward targeted a post claiming Phoenix improved without him.
The post included that the Suns had passed Houston to secure the 6th seed, which led to a strong reaction from Durant. “Propaganda rears its ugly head at random times,” the Slim Reaper stated.
He suggested that the criticism is driven by personal bias rather than genuine basketball analysis or objective performance data. “When you’re unlikeable for reasons bigger than your profession,” Durant added before deleting it.
The X post added that Phoenix pulled ahead of Houston with an impressive 8-2 record over their last 10 games. Statistics show the Suns holding a.600 winning percentage against the Rockets’.622 mark.
Kevin Durant faces the numbers game
This friction traces back to the massive July 2025 deal involving 7 teams and 13 players. The Rockets acquired stars Kevin Durant and Clint Capela, while sending youth assets and draft picks to the Suns and other teams.
Durant is averaging 26.1 points per game on 52.1% shooting for the Rockets this season, but the team's performance has been inconsistent due to significant injuries and depth issues.
The Suns have gained stability this season, thanks in part to July 2025 trade acquisitions like Dillon Brooks. He's averaging a career-high 21.3 points per game and shooting 45.7% from the field in his first season with Phoenix.
New head coach Jordan Ott implemented a system that maximized the depth acquired following the departure of Durant. The Suns used this balance to surpass the Rockets in the conference standings.
Star power often causes teams to overlook the crucial need for a balanced and deep roster. Durant calls it propaganda, but the standings suggest a ruthless truth about team construction.
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