'KD is different, man' – Phoenix Suns ecstatic after securing Durant trade

The Phoenix Suns went down 116-107 against the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday, but nothing could dampen their spirits after securing a trade for Kevin Durant.

In the lead-up to the trade deadline, the Suns sent Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson and four unprotected first-round draft picks to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Durant, sending shockwaves throughout the league.

In an instant, Phoenix became the favourites in the Western Conference, boasting the league's best offensive duo with Durant and 26-year-old All-NBA First Team talent Devin Booker, while retaining elite point guard Chris Paul and franchise center Deandre Ayton.

Speaking to the media after Thursday's loss, Paul referenced Durant's famous "I'm Kevin Durant – y'all know who I am" interview when discussing the immense impact he can make on the Suns.

"What did KD say in that interview one time? What did he say? Y'all know who he is," Paul said.

"So you add him to the – who is that that the Harlem Globetrotters play against all the time? The Washington Generals. You add him to them and they're going to be nice. You know what I mean?

"KD is different, man. He different. That's why he is who he is. He's been doing it in this league for a long time. We got to see what it is."

WELCOME TO THE VALLEY, KD! pic.twitter.com/13PoF5obn2

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) February 9, 2023

More than anything, Paul said he is looking forward to sharing his love for the game with another future Hall-of-Famer.

"He's one of the best players to ever play the game," he said. "Just to know how he approaches the game, his nickname's 'Easy Money', just somebody who loves the game like that.

"I think that's what brought me and Book closer together because he just loves to hoop. And KD, he just loves to hoop. So I'm excited about the process of building this team."

When asked if he feels Durant is happy about the trade, Paul said "I mean, he ain't mad", before adding some context.

"But it's also a lot for him," he said. "He's been there in Brooklyn for a while. I think that's the thing, I get it, it's definitely exciting – but there's a lot that goes into this stuff, man.

"Obviously guys are changing teams, but guys got their families. [Mikal Bridges] and Cam [Johnson]'s settled in Phoenix. KD done built a whole business and he's a big figure there in Brooklyn, New York.

"It's a lot to deal with, so I think everybody's got to figure it out. It just happened."

Ayton was asked if he felt the trade gave them a realistic chance at the championship, and he was not bashful in his response.

"Damn right," he said. "You're damn right. That's how I feel.

"We've been in situations where a team threw everything at us to stop us even though we didn't have the right pieces on the court... knowing what these teams can throw at us, we're ready for it man.

"It's going to be real fun because it's so many pieces, golly. It's trouble, and it's fun, because it's about time. We got the firepower for real, and you can feel it."

Good night, Suns fans pic.twitter.com/VG6hO8sdak

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) February 10, 2023

Head coach Monty Williams shared that enthusiasm, having previously spent time with Durant as part of Team USA's 2016 Olympic team.

"I think it's more than a lift," he said. "I think it's a jolt, if that makes sense. Just because of, not just who he is as a player, but his love for the game.

"I think the guys are going to see something that they may not have seen before as far as his approach and how much he just loves to play basketball.

"I think if he could hoop every day, 24/7 he would do that and I think that's who we are. So to be able to have someone like that in your gym, but who's also ultra talented, and one of the best to ever do it, I think it's going to not just compliment what we do, it's gonna uplift and give us a bit of a jolt."

However, Williams also acknowledged the tough side of trades, sharing the pain of saying goodbye to players he has watched grow up.

"There's a human side to all of this that you have to deal with," he said. "It was an emotional day talking to those guys.

"I got to see them before they took off and it was emotional. Those two are near and dear to my heart. They literally are like my family."

The Suns sit sixth in the West with a record of 30-27, and they will be anxiously awaiting Durant's debut some time after the All-Star break as he recovers from a knee injury.