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Billy Donovan praises KD for hitting game-winning jumper: "He is not afraid in the moment"

Billy Donovan showered his former player with praise.

Nick Raguz

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Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan knows what Phoenix Suns superstar Kevin Durant is all about, as he coached the two-time Finals MVP during the latter’s final season with the Oklahoma City Thunder in 2015. 

Donovan got a stern reminder of Durant’s capabilities on Monday as the “Slim Reaper” drained a difficult jumper over two Bulls defenders to give the Suns a thrilling 115-113 victory.

Not afraid to take the big shots

As impressive as Durant’s game-winner was—he made the shot with Bulls forward Patrick Williams challenging him and Alex Caruso trying to block it from behind—Donovan shared that KD’s fearlessness makes him a nightmare to defend in crunchtime.

“I don’t think he gets enough credit about this — he is not afraid in the moment. He leans into that. He wants every bit of that,” Donovan said.

Against the Bulls, Durant got off to a rocky start and, at one point, was 4-of-16 from the field. However, he found his stroke in the second half, scoring 30 of his 43 points.

“You look at some of the shots he’s made throughout his career in the playoffs and big moments, you look at the knockdown shots he’s made, he leans into those moments. I’ve always respected guys like that — guys that lean into it and want it,” Donovan added.

Give credit where credit is due

The Bulls had the Suns on the ropes as they led by 23, 79-56, four minutes into the third quarter. However, Durant got into a groove, eventually producing an avalanche of points that the Bulls couldn’t stop. 

After the game, fellow veteran DeMar DeRozan, a player who has seen plenty of Durant’s greatness throughout his career, praised the Suns star for his performance.

"One of the greatest players in the game," DeRozan said.

"You got to shake his hand, give him credit. It's incredible what he's able to do."

Kevin Durant rips the Chicago Bulls' hearts out as he hits a game-winning jumper to lift the Phoenix Suns to a 115-113 win

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Nick Raguz
NICK RAGUZ

Nick's journey has been an exciting fusion of basketball and the written word. A former basketball player himself, he possesses an insatiable appetite for all things NBA-related, spanning from the captivating tales of old-school NBA to intriguing statistics and the latest updates from the association.

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