Array
— New team, same Kevin Durant.
The Durant era in Phoenix got off to solid start Wednesday night with the 13-time NBA All-Star scoring 23 points on 10-of-15 shooting, adding an explosive offensive element to an already dangerous offense in his Suns debut.
Durant, playing for his fourth team in the last seven seasons, added six rebounds and two blocks as Phoenix beat the Charlotte Hornets 105-91.
“I’ve played in almost a thousand basketball games, but today I was nervous,” Durant said. “It’s a new team, new group, and I want to play hard for them and be coachable. So, I was thinking about all that today.”
Durant said despite his success, he still feels like he has something to prove to his teammates and coaches. New team, same Kevin Durant.
“I feel there is pressure on me and who I am every day,” Durant said. “I put that on me.”
Devin Booker seemed to feed off Durant, scoring 37 points in the win.
“He’s just a pure basketball player,” Durant said about Booker.
Coming off a knee injury that has kept him out of action since Jan. 8, Durant was limited to 27 minutes while on a playing-time restriction.
Wearing No. 35, Durant was greeted by a loud ovation as he was introduced at the Spectrum Center and fans held up cell phones straining to record video of him in his white jersey.
He missed a foul line jumper on his team’s first possession, but scored his first basket with the Suns a few moments later on a driving left-handed layup. Durant followed with a block on Hornets rookie center Mark Williams and then knocked down a 3-pointer from the left wing as Phoenix bolted to a 9-0 lead it would never surrender.
He wasn’t perfect in his return, turning the ball over twice, including once when he dribbled off his own leg while driving to the left.
