“Figure Out Who’s Batman”: Kevin Durant Needs to Assert His Dominance on Bradley Beal and Devin Booker Per 1x NBA Champ

Bradley Beal’s recent trade from Washington Wizards to the Phoenix Suns is the hottest news in the NBA. With this trade, expect a Big 3 of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal to be one of the dominant forces in the league. However, this union also draws several questions about whether the players’ egos will clash next season. In a recent appearance on the No Chill with Gilbert Arenas podcast, 2016 NBA champion Iman Shumpert says KD should assert dominance within this super-team roster. Having played with stars Kyrie Irving and LeBron James, Shumpert does seem to have some keen insight into team and player dynamics.

With the addition of Bradley Beal, the new Phoenix Suns side might prove to be a formidable force in the upcoming season. Beal’s addition alongside Booker and Durant makes the team a brilliant scoring wise, given all these players have a significant reputation for being prolific bucket-getters.

Iman Shumpert believes Kevin Durant should assert his dominance at Phoenix Suns

The addition of Bradley Beal makes the Phoenix Suns roster star-studded. And with several stars in one team, there might be issues regarding personal ego clashes among the star players. Iman Shumpert draws the example of Kobe Bryant and emphasizes how Kevin Durant should start asserting his position within the squad. Using a Batman analogy, Shumpert commented:

” I think Bradley Beals plays great basketball, KD plays great basketball. I think you gotta figure out who’s Batman. Because you don’t think that  [Kevin Durant] would think he’s not Batman.”

Here, Iman Shumpert is trying to imply how almost everyone in the Suns’ ‘Big 3’ would like to be the savior for the team. In such a situation, there are chances that players might clash for individual titles and achievements. Shumpert explains how Kobe successfully reserved his place and dominance at the Lakers, despite several new stars arriving on the team. Adding further, he remarked:

“You can’t take Egos and personal. Kobe is this guy. Stop thinking he don’t think he’s Kobe, as far as this situation goes. Because Kobe would look dead at KD and be like ‘you know I’m taking that last shot right? I’m gonna take this last shot okay? think its good with coach, I don’t care how young I am, I don’t care if my fro combed.'” 

In the 2022-23 season, Kevin Durant averaged 29.1 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.0 rebounds. Alongside Devin Booker, the Suns finished 4th in the Western Conference, losing out to the Denver Nuggets 2-4 in the Conference semi-finals. Perhaps with the addition of Bradley Beal, the Suns and their Big 3 will now be able to challenge for the Conference title to the least. If the super-team meets its expectations, it might even challenge a title run in the upcoming season.

The Bradley Beal trade deal might have a positive impact on the Phoenix Suns’ roster

Following Bradley Beal’s arrival in Phoenix, the Suns now have four max-level players. Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, Bradley Beal, and Deandre Ayton are expected to have a major impact in the upcoming season, posing a formidable position as title contenders. The Suns might use the touted prospects of low-cost role players to fill their roster further.

With this, Booker might likely assume a point guard role. Furthermore, Beal and Kevin Durant’s combination will now form two volume shooters on the roster. If the team can find the perfect chemistry following this rebuild, the NBA might see a much more dominant Suns next season.