Missing Kevin Durant: 7 things I miss in his 7 missed games

Don’t waste your time on me, you’re already the voice inside my head.

The drumbeat starts, steady and hypnotic, like a heartbeat setting the tone. A deep, resonant bassline follows, rippling through the air with a magnetic pull. Then, the delicate plucking of guitar strings joins the mix, weaving a melody that feels like a whispered invitation to a secret gathering. The music swells, and finally, the vocals slip in, soft and smooth, like a breeze carrying a story only it knows.

Hello, there. The angel from my nightmare.

The shadow in the background of the morgue.

The unsuspecting victim of darkness in the Valley.

We can live like Jack and Sally, if we want…

The Valley, you say? Why, that is where the Phoenix Suns play. Fun fact: my parent’s names were Jack and Sally.

I miss you, miss you…

I miss you, miss you…

The message that Mark Hoppus of blink-182 sang back in 2003 hit home for the 2024 Phoenix Suns and their longing for Kevin Durant. We miss him. We need him. There is a darkness in the Valley right now as the team looks utterly lost in his absence.

Sidelined with a calf strain, Durant has already missed seven games this season—equaling the total games he missed all of last year. Without him, the Suns feel rudderless, adrift on an open sea with no clear path forward. That sense of purpose won’t return until he does.

Oh wait, here comes Tom DeLonge…

Where are you?! And I’m so sorry!

I cannot sleep, I cannot dream tonight.

I need somebody and always.

This sick, strange darkness comes creeping on, so haunting every time.

That haunting specter is the thought of what this team becomes without Kevin Durant. It lies in our subconscious every time Phoenix takes the court without him. And that darkness? It’s the creeping fear that, without KD, this season could spiral into yet another chapter of Suns history defined by pain, frustration, and unfulfilled dreams.

We’ve had 7 games without Durant. And here are 7 things I miss about seeing him out there on the court.

1. Winning

Yeah, you know, that thing the team started out doing this season?

Phoenix started the season 8-1 with Durant in the lineup, and while the games were often tight, the Suns had the ultimate closer. One of the best in the league. Opposing teams couldn’t afford to double-team Devin Booker, knowing Durant was right there beside him, which only made the team even more dangerous.

“I think that Book was right next to me on the wing,” Durant said after hitting the game-winning shot against the Philadelphia 76ers. “That cut out from the wing allowed me to get some space so they can’t help off and help me in that driving lane. Stuff that we emphasize every day with spacing and was a good play for us.”

Phoenix was off to one of the best starts in franchise history. While they didn’t exactly look unstoppable, they were laying the groundwork for what could be a historic season. In their first year under head coach Mike Budenholzer and his three-point-heavy offense, the team was still in adjustment mode. But they were finding ways to win. And the key to it all? Kevin Durant.

Because he was clutch.

Durant led the Suns with 35 clutch-time points, a total that still ranks sixth in the NBA this season despite his missed time. He was remarkably efficient, shooting 63.2% from the field in those crucial moments. Most importantly? The Suns were a perfect 7-0 in those games.

Speaking of clutch…

2. Being in Clutch Games

Since KD hit the IR, the team hasn’t won a clutch game. Heck, they’ve barely even been in any! The Phoenix Suns are 0-2 in clutch games since November 9.

I know some fans were restless, pointing out that while the team was 8-1, they weren’t exactly dominating opponents. Seven of those eight victories were decided in clutch moments, leaving critics to argue that relying on such narrow margins isn’t a sustainable formula for success in the grueling NBA season.

Bet you wish we were in clutch games now, don’t you?

This team hasn’t even been competitive since Durant has been out. They consistently start flat, get outscored in the first quarter, and find themselves in a desperate scramble to claw back, only to fall short.

The numbers tell the story: just two clutch games in their last seven, during which they’ve gone 1-6, and a league-worst -25 point differential in the first quarter over that stretch. The Suns are digging themselves into holes they can’t climb out of.

3. Defense

You might not think of Kevin Durant as an elite defender, but his presence provided defensive cohesion on a team that isn’t going to make its name on that end of the court. He’s a long defender who takes up space and can deter shots, and you could make the case that he is the Suns’ best overall defender.

Before Durant’s injury, the Phoenix Suns ranked 10th in the NBA with a 110.9 defensive rating, 11th in plus/minus at +30, and 13th in opponent points per game, allowing just 111.3. In the seven games since? The drop-off has been staggering. They’ve plummeted to 28th in defensive rating at 121.1—10.2 points worse. Their plus/minus has cratered to -69, also 28th, and opponents are now scoring 118.9 points per game, a concerning 7.6-point increase.

This decline isn’t solely due to Durant’s absence. Bradley Beal, whose defensive effort and hustle have been invaluable this season, has also been sidelined. Jusuf Nurkic has missed time as well. But collectively, the Suns have been significantly worse defensively without Durant anchoring their lineup.

If the Suns, who have effective defensive wings on their roster, could commit more fully to the defensive end, it would transform their game. Disruptive defense often leads to easier offensive opportunities, creating a natural flow that energizes the entire team and keeps everyone engaged.

4. Isolation Ball

Yeah, I said it.

For all of you who whined and complained that Kevin Durant was sooooo isolation-heavy late in games that it was unwatchable, I ask unto thee: Isn’t this version of the Suns more unwatchable?

Durant’s affinity for isolation basketball at the end of games is not unique. Have you ever watched the end of any other basketball game? Like, ever? Every team does the same thing: they put the ball in the hands of their superstar, get the hell out of the way, and let him cook.

Fans bang the drum, insisting the team should stick with the style of play that got them to this point, whether it’s three-point shooting or ball movement that leads to three-point shooting. But that drumbeat goes unheard, because it’s simply not the way the game is being played right now.

Seeing Durant in isolation mode highlights my second point: it’s a sign that the Suns are in close games, with Durant having the opportunity to take over and carry Phoenix to victory. Without him, though, the Suns haven’t found themselves in those crucial late-game situations.

5. Three-Point Shooting

What in the name of Travis Parker has happened to the Suns’ three-point shooting? With Durant in the lineup, the team ranked seventh in the league, shooting 38.3%. Without him? They’ve dropped to 18th, with a shooting percentage of just 34.6%.

Part of the reasoning for this is Durant is a hell of a three-point shooter himself. Losing someone who was shooting 42.9% from deep hurts. That’s the best percentage from any of the Suns’ starters, and only Josh Okogie — that’s right…Josh Okogie — has a higher percentage on the team with 50%. Granted, Durant was 24-of-56 while Okogie is 9-of-18, but still. Tip o’ the hat to you, JO.

So yeah, losing a three-point threat hurts your three-point shooting percentage. Write that down.

It’s also the gravitational pull Durant has on defenders that the Suns are missing. Without him, defenders don’t need to give as much attention to Royce O’Neale, Ryan Dunn, or Mason Plumlee — who have all started at the four since Durant’s injury — as they would to KD. With less defensive focus, the opportunities for wide-open threes shrink, meaning fewer chances to capitalize on them. Write that down, too.

However, I will note that since KD went out, the team has had the fourth-most wide-open three-point attempts in the NBA at 24.7 a game. And they’ve hit 37.6% of those shots, which ranks them 18th. So maybe it’s been a perfect shitstorm for Phoenix, where they are down their best three-point shooter, and those who are being asked to step up have gone ice cold.

6. On Court Personality

This is where my inner Matthew Lissy takes over. He’s Bright Side’s go-to guy for body language analysis, and I’m sure he’d have a lot to say about the team’s current vibes. From a body language perspective, what we’re seeing right now isn’t exactly promising. Shoulders are slumped. Frustration is painted across their faces. Eye rolls after missed three and not getting back on defense.

When KD was out there, the team had spunk, personality, and a vibe about it. Durant was dishing out “too small’s,” and high fives amongst players weren’t transactional.

Winning generates a contagious energy that elevates the entire team, creating an atmosphere of confidence and momentum. Without Durant, however, the Suns have lost that spark. The team now looks flat, and their on-court demeanor has shifted from dynamic to frustration.

The rhythm that once powered them feels out of sync, with players seeming to search for direction. It’s as if the heart of the team has been temporarily disconnected, leaving a void that the usual spark of success used to fill.

7. That Jumper

Kevin Durant possesses one of the most aesthetically pleasing jump shots the game has ever seen. It’s the kind of skill we might take for granted on a nightly basis, appreciating it in passing but never fully acknowledging its brilliance. But when it’s missing, the absence is glaring.

The way he glides to his spots — of which there are countless across the floor — elevates to the peak of his jumper, and releases with that effortless smoothness? It’s pure art. It’s a masterclass in science and mechanics. It’s probably even a bit of psychology and social studies too, as his mere presence on the court shifts the dynamics.

It’s a sight I deeply miss seeing.

I’ve often referenced on the Suns JAM Session that KD is the butt plug because he stops the runs. A crude comparison, sure, but that’s what you get on the ‘ole Suns JAM. And it’s not even a good one. Like, does a butt plug stop the runs? Probably not. Regardless, it’s been something we’ve sorely missed since he’s been out: the ability to watch that gorgeous jumper rise when Phoenix hits a rough patch. In those moments when the team desperately needs a shot to stop a run, Kevin Durant is there, calmly stepping up to take control and deliver.

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Oh, hey, it’s Tom DeLonge’s whiny voice again…

Will you come home and stop this pain tonight? Stop this pain tonight!

There is hope. Durant should make his return to the Phoenix Suns’ lineup, and all of the things we’ve missed since his departure will once again be on display for us to see.

Appreciate those moments while they’re unfolding, because when they’re gone, you find yourself driving to work in the cold, pre-dawn hours of a November morning. The chill of the steering wheel presses into your hand, the blue-gray sky overhead reflecting the somber mood, and as blink-182’s melancholy chords fill the car, you can’t help but realize how perfectly their lyrics capture the feeling of watching your favorite basketball team struggle. And the player you wish you could still see lighting up the court.