It has recently emerged that the New York Knicks are not among the suitors for Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant. While Durant is expensive, it does seem irrational for the franchise not to want such a good player.
ESPN analyst and life-long Knicks fan Stephen A. Smith singled out team owner James Dolan for not wanting Durant only because of some past comments.
Stephen A. Smith Singles Out Knicks Owner’s ‘Pettiness’ & ‘Idiocy’ Towards Kevin Durant
During his June 17 appearance on ESPN’s First Take, Smith singled out the Knicks for making the wrong decision while alleging that Durant’s past comments are why they refuse to make this union happen.
“Of course it’s a mistake,” Smith said. “Of course, I would say this is idiocy, to be quite honest with you. But before I get to that, let me say this. This is a classic case of past comments coming back to bite you in the ass. That’s really what this is about.”
Smith then elaborated on what Durant said, which he alleges started a grudge on Dolan’s part.
“KD, if you remember correctly, when he decided to go to Brooklyn and then he revealed why he decided to go away from the New York Knicks and then go to the Brooklyn Nets, he talked about how the Knicks were corny, and at the time, he was right,” Smith explained.
“Unfortunately, what he didn’t take into account… the pettiness of an owner like James Dolan, who probably remembered that and that’s the only reason, because anybody that has a speck of knowledge about the game of basketball, you can’t justify not wanting KD on your squad.”
“Anybody that has a speck of knowledge about the game of basketball, you can’t justify not wanting KD on your squad.”@stephenasmith believes it is James Dolan’s pettiness that will keep Kevin Durant off the Knicks 😯 pic.twitter.com/BwrrEZQtGC
— First Take (@FirstTake) June 17, 2025
It is true that Durant had his chance to join the franchise back in 2019 and has called the franchise “corny” in the past. Despite this, it hardly seems believable that Dolan would hold that against him when he’s available, just as the New York squad is coming off a very successful playoff run.
Durant could help the Knicks go even further than they did. However, two reasons might turn them off to a Durant trade.
One, he’s a flight risk. Even with how good they are and would be with him on the roster, there’s no telling if he will stay. The longest he stayed around with a team since leaving the Oklahoma City Thunder is three and a half seasons with the Nets.
Two, because of how much salary they would have to match, there’s a solid chance New York’s roster gets messy. That’s what doomed Phoenix when they had Durant, failing to have a solid bench, as it lowered their actual ceiling.
New York may have reasons for not wanting the future Hall of Famer, but past comments hardly seem like a true reason.
James Dolans life is very short. Please give KD a chance. You have to respect him.