Durant rejects Rockets’ plan: “I want to play”
Kevin Durant doesn’t want age-related restrictions: Houston is considering reducing his minutes, but KD insists he is still ready for heavy workloads
Houston has already started thinking about how to manage Kevin Durant throughout the season. The player himself, however, doesn’t seem particularly convinced that it’s necessary.
During the Rockets’ Media Day, KD was asked what he thought about the idea of Ime Udoka and Rafael Stone reducing his minutes compared to last season. The reporter hadn’t even finished the question when Durant interrupted him:
Why?
Kevin Durant
The answer already says quite a bit. Durant is about to turn 38, but he doesn’t want his age to automatically become a reason to keep him on the bench for longer stretches.
Durant: “The team is better when I’m on the floor”
KD hasn’t completely ruled out the possibility of playing fewer minutes. The point, according to him, is understanding why he should do it.
If Houston can put games away early, no problem. But if the outcome is still in the balance and the Rockets need him, Durant wants to be on the floor.
My message has been the same for a long time: I’m better when I’m on the floor and the team is better when I’m on the floor. If we do our job in the first three quarters, or even earlier, then maybe I can play less
Kevin Durant
What Durant isn’t convinced by is the idea of setting a limit simply by looking at his age or the number of minutes he logged the previous season.
Reducing my minutes just because I’m older or because I played a lot? That’s exactly why I train, to be able to handle the entire season and, if necessary, even play 48 minutes. I understand the concern, but if the game needs me to be out there, I want to be there
Kevin Durant
And looking at last season’s numbers, it’s easy to understand why KD is so confident in his condition. Durant played 78 games while averaging 36.4 minutes, finishing second in the entire NBA in total minutes with roughly 2,840.
The workload didn’t stop him from producing: 26 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game, while shooting 52% from the field and an impressive 41.3% from three.
In short, Houston wants to preserve him, while Durant simply wants to play. At nearly 38 years old, KD doesn’t seem to have any intention of starting to watch the clock, especially when the game is still undecided. The ideal compromise? Put the game away early and save a few minutes down the stretch.