A fantastic Kevin Durant season is being squandered by the Phoenix Suns.

The Phoenix Suns‘ season hit a new low on Tuesday night, losing to the lowly Portland Trail Blazers 109-104. The Trail Blazers secured only their seventh win of the season, and the defeat was even more painful as former Suns Deandre Ayton and draft pick Toumani Camara played crucial roles in the Trail Blazers’ victory.

To compound the issue, the Suns dropped to a 14-13 record and couldn’t attribute the loss to the absence of key players. Bradley Beal was notably absent, and the latest update on his return is not promising. The season was not envisioned to unfold in this manner, especially considering the initial hope that Devin Booker could lead an MVP-caliber run, with Kevin Durant as the second option and Bradley Beal contributing when needed.

In the game against the Trail Blazers, Durant scored a game-high 40 points, showcasing his scoring ability and giving the team every opportunity to secure a win. However, Booker’s 26 points, coupled with Durant’s efforts, were insufficient to overcome the inferior opponent.

The Golden State Warriors’ recent three-game winning streak has narrowed the gap to just one game behind the Suns, raising the possibility of Phoenix finishing 2023 outside the playoff picture.

Despite Durant boasting the ninth-best Player Efficiency Rating (24.4) in the league and averaging 8.4 free-throw attempts per game, the Suns’ current struggles cannot be attributed to him. Durant is doing everything in his power to elevate the team, but organizational issues are hindering his efforts, demanding swift change.