Kevin Durant makes life easier for others on the court. There’s no doubt about that, irrespective of what your opinion is on his legacy outside of the Golden State Warriors. KD had his impact even in Phoenix, and the Suns’ Grayson Allen spoke about that on SiriusXM NBA Radio recently.
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Allen laid out what to expect from the Suns’ roster in the 2025-26 season. Needless to say, the big change is that they don’t have a player like KD to give the ball to. All said and done, Durant is, after all, one of the greatest scorers of all time.
Allen knows that the Suns have to be more competitive and show an “edge” over their opponents to get the better of them. Offensively, they don’t have the “big three” of Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal anymore. Durant and Beal were shipped off over the summer. To compensate for that, they have to get their defensive game on point.
“The more we can rebound the ball and go and create easier looks for us offensively, it’ll be better for us,” Allen said.
“We don’t have a guy like KD who can shoot over everyone, and you just give him the ball. Like, we’re gonna have to create advantages for our teammates, we’re gonna have to get out there and run, and really be connected,” added the shooting guard.
“We’re going to have to create advantages for our teammates”@Suns guard Grayson Allen explains to @TermineRadio and @JumpShot8 what sets this season’s roster apart from previous ones pic.twitter.com/Nf4T3oxC0Z
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) October 1, 2025
Durant was by no means a pillar of the Suns. He was good, yes. KD averaged 26.8 points in just under 150 games over two years. But, system-wise, the group in Phoenix never really clicked. Across the three seasons KD called Phoenix home, they missed the playoffs twice.
However, Durant is a future Hall of Famer, and having him on any roster is a massive advantage. The Suns will miss his offensive output.
Of course, Durant didn’t appear too happy in Phoenix, and a move in the 2025 summer seemed inevitable. He wanted to join a franchise that could help him win his first ring without Stephen Curry, and he picked the Houston Rockets. With Alperen Sengun, Amen Thompson, and more rising stars, the Rockets have a genuine chance in the West.
Phoenix, meanwhile, is building around Booker as the focal point. Clearly, both Durant and his former side are firmly focused on the future and time, no doubt, will reveal how their stories pan out.
