The Phoenix Suns: Impending Champions or Failed Superteam?
Photo Credit: Shams Charania via Twitter
Kevin Durant has become a magnet for superteams in the NBA. Two days ago, Bradley Beal went to the Phoenix Suns in exchange for Chris Paul, Landry Shamet, and multiple draft picks. Beal’s departure from the Washington Wizards has been expected for quite some time now, as the partnership has seemingly run its course. The addition of Beal to a Suns team led by two of the most offensively talented players in the league, Kevin Durant and Devin Booker, is certainly exciting. However, the success of this newly constructed superteam is not guaranteed.
It is important to define the term superteam. A superteam is widely recognized to be a team consisting of three (or more) all-star caliber players. Operating off of this definition, the last “superteam” to emerge as NBA Champions was the 2018 Golden State Warriors. The star-studded team had also won the previous year, achieving back-to-back titles for Golden State. These finals consisted of unequivocal hall of famers, including Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and LeBron James. Interestingly enough, Kevin Durant won Finals MVP in both of these years. Durant’s elite performances and subsequent championships serve as a testament to the potential of superteams, especially those containing Durant. Not to mention the Miami Heat’s back-to-back championships approximately a decade ago with a superteam of Dwayne Wade, LeBron James, and Chris Bosh. In recent years, however, the prevailing champions have not been “superteams.”
The last five NBA Champions have been the Denver Nuggets, the Golden State Warriors, the Milwaukee Bucks, the Los Angeles Lakers, and the Toronto Raptors. None of these teams were considered superteams. This begs the question of whether or not the superteam era has come to an end. Two of the most prominent superteams in the modern NBA have failed miserably. For example, the Los Angeles Lakers acquired Russel Westbrook in 2021 to create a superteam of Westbrook, Anthony Davis, and LeBron. However, the Lakers did not even qualify for the playoffs in the 2021-2022 season. Even more concerningly, the Lakers held a 25-30 record this past season - one of the worst in the league - before trading Westbrook. The team’s lack of chemistry and conflicting egos prevented the Lakers from thriving. Another example of a disappointing superteam is the Brooklyn Nets. With a cast of Kevin Durant, James Harden, and Kyrie Irving, success was seemingly inevitable. Similarly to the Lakers, however, the Brooklyn Nets did not meet expectations and never even reached the NBA Finals. Their over-reliance on individual talent and lack of depth were put on full display when these players were injured.
Personally, I was surprised that the Phoenix Suns decided to make such drastic changes. Not only did they trade Chris Paul, but they also fired head coach Monty Williams. Just three years ago, the team was in the NBA Finals. Two years ago, the team was one win away from advancing to the Western Conference Finals. This prior season, the team handed the current champions more losses in a playoff series than any other team. Apparently, patience and satisfaction have become lost arts in the NBA. Organizations have developed a “win-now” mentality that refuses to accept anything less than a championship. The Phoenix Suns now contain one of the most competitive and talented rosters in the entire league - at least offensively. That is a fact. However, the depth and dynamics of the team may become problematic. Only time will tell.
