Richard Jefferson questions the chemistry of the Suns’ Big Three.
It’s anybody’s guess, but ESPN NBA analyst and host of the “Road Trippin’” podcast, Richard Jefferson, took his swing at what he considers to be one of the biggest issues with our Phoenix Suns.
“As great as he (Kevin Durant) is. He’s still one of the best players in the NBA. I think he can still lead a team to a championship. But at what time has been KD teaming up with his boys worked out the way he would like?”
Jefferson created some insinuation that Durant and Booker, who are close friends, may not be that way:
“Because before, he loved Devin Booker. There was a mutual respect. Now, they’re not getting along. Don’t really mess with Bradley Beal. Bradley Beal’s out. Now, they’re going to bring in Jimmy Butler potentially because that’s what KD wants.”
Oh boy. Let me provide some clarity.
Kevin Durant is one of the ten best players in NBA history, for whatever worth or stock you have in my opinion. But! I can’t say that RJ is incorrect here.
The Suns’ “Big 3” was expected to be a better group than it has shown. The Suns went 49-33 last season, and that looked like the best version of the team.
Booker and Durant are indeed close, and it’s hard to say from this clip alone if Jefferson is providing an educated guess or actual reporting. Kendrick Perkins, who may or may not actually believe what comes from his mouth, didn’t add or follow-up to Jefferson’s point, and the podcast went immediately away from that gut-punch to the Phoenix fans.
Let’s be clear: I don’t think that there’s any sort of truth to this unless we see a public turn from the two superstars. But, I also am not around these guys. I mean, for whatever it’s worth, those guys were smiling widely while talking after the bad loss to the Pacers.
Let’s take a deep breath here.