The Phoenix Suns have struggled to find consistency this season, despite featuring a star-studded lineup led by Kevin Durant. With a 30-34 record, they currently sit as the 11th seed in the Western Conference, far from their championship aspirations at the beginning of the season.
As the Suns battle through an underwhelming campaign, NBA analyst Skip Bayless didn’t hold back in questioning Durant‘s mentality. The veteran forward, however, didn’t let the criticism slide, responding with a fiery message on social media.
Durant responds to Bayless’ critique
Following the Suns’ 126-115 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday, Bayless took to The Skip Bayless Show to offer his take on Durant‘s current form and mindset.
The controversial analyst suggested that Durant is losing his competitive edge as he nears the twilight of his career.
“The more I watch him at age 36, the more he looks mentally semi-retired to me,” Bayless stated. “He is participating in a documentary that’s being made about his life and times. And it just feels to me like he is winding down his basketball [career].”
It didn’t take long for Durant to fire back on X, responding with a sarcastic yet sharp remark aimed directly at Bayless.
“F**k it, We’re both washed, it was a great run,” he wrote.
This exchange added to the growing narrative surrounding Durant, with some questioning whether his championship window with Phoenix is closing.
However, his numbers tell a different story-Durant is still performing at an elite level, averaging 26.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 4.3 assists per game across 51 appearances this season.
Beyond the ongoing debate about Durant’s mindset, another major storyline is beginning to take shape-his future in Phoenix.
During Sunday’s game against Dallas, Durant was seen having a brief courtside exchange with Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd. While the details of their conversation remain unclear, the interaction fueled speculation that Dallas could make a push for Durant in the offseason.
Recent reports have suggested that the Suns may explore trade options for Durant, with multiple teams already such as Dallas, the Houston Rockets, Golden State Warriors and Miami Heat surfacing as potential landing spots.
