Kevin Durant has joined the Phoenix Suns after a blockbuster trade with the Brooklyn Nets. Kyrie Irving ended the superstar’s tenure with the Nets by forcibly leaving the city. This is a huge move that changes the playoff picture and puts Durant in a better position to win a second title.
One important detail about Durant’s move to the Suns has surfaced: his jersey number. According to The Boardroom, Durant will go back to position 35.
During his time with the Nets, Durant switched from wearing his usual No. 35 jersey—which he wore throughout his NCAA and professional careers—to wearing No. 7, although the Suns have retired that number in honour of Kevin Johnson. The last Suns player to wear that number was Chandler Hutchison; the one before him was Dragan Bender, whose jersey was made fun of this past summer to make it look like a Durant jersey.
The Suns will possess one of the strongest tandems in the NBA with Durant and Booker terrorising opponents. Phoenix has two of the most dangerous scorers in the NBA, so even if they sacrifice some defence, they should be extremely hard to stop. Phoenix, along with Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton, is motivated to win the Western Conference.
Even though the 30-26 Suns still have some gap to make up in the standings, Kevin Durant will be their best assistant as they look to secure a top seed. This Suns squad has the potential to be very strong come playoff time.