The way we view Italy has changed - or ought to have changed. Some, perhaps subconsciously, still see them as a nailed-on win with only the margin up for discussion. That was the case for a long time, but not anymore.

They have class and power all over their team, they have clever creators, deadly finishers with dynamism and belligerence.

Scotland have lost more Six Nations games to Italy (eight) than all the other nations combined, so the warning signs are there, flashing blue. Would it be a massive surprise if Italy won? Not in the minds of anybody who's been paying attention to them.

Townsend has injuries, but he's not wallowing. He has absolute faith in Stafford McDowall filling in for Tuipulotu and bringing some of his ball-carrying and defensive solidity to the party.

McDowall is not Tuipulotu but he's still a seriously accomplished footballer, a leader, a big presence who will relish a run in the team. Save for Cherry and the undercooked, but freakish unit, Gray, then this is an impressive Scotland team with an impactful bench.

And they'll most likely need it. A recurring theme throughout last season's championship was Scotland's fast starts and slow finishes, the opening day hair-raiser against Wales being the classic illustration of that.

In points scored across the four quarters of games they went from first, to third, to joint fifth to sixth in the final quarter. For points conceded they were again at their weakest in the final quarter.

Townsend has some terrific firepower on the bench. George Horne, Tom Jordan and Kyle Rowe can create things out of nothing. Gregor Brown, with his physicality and skill-set, could be a real breakout star. Jack Dempsey hasn't played a whole pile of rugby but his carrying and his intensity might be just the ticket to get Scotland over the line.

It could be nervous, it could be positively terrifying, but it's the Six Nations and it's back and it's a hell of a time to be alive.

France: Ramos; Attissogbe, Barassi, Moefana, Bielle-Biarrey; Ntamack, Dupont (capt); Gros, Mauvaka, Atonio, Roumat, Meafou, Cros, Boudehent, Alldritt.

Red card: Ntamack 71

Replacements: Marchand, Baille, Colombe, Auradou, Guillard, Jegou, Le Garrec, Gailleton.

Wales: L Williams; Rogers, Watkin, Tompkins, Adams; B Thomas,-T Williams; G Thomas, Lloyd, H Thomas, Rowlands, Jenkins, Botham, Morgan (capt),Wainwright.

Replacements: Dee, Smith, Assiratti, F Thomas, Reffell, R. Williams, Edwards, Murray.

Sin-bin: Lloyd 32, F Thomas 76

Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)

Assistant referees: Andrea Piardi (Italy) & Jordan Way (Australia) Brett Cronan (Australia)

Television match official: Brett Cronan (RA)

Miguel Almirón said he feels like he's "at home" now that he's returning to Atlanta United.

Almirón's $12.5 million move from Premier League side Newcastle United was officially announced on Thursday. He arrived to a hero's welcome at Hartsfield International Airport on Thursday night, signing autographs, taking pictures with fans, and listening to fans chant, "Miggy, Miggy."

"I feel at home," he said during a conference call with reporters with the help of a translator. "Especially last night, the welcome was really nice and it was great to see it and I feel like I'm home."

The move comes six years after he left the Five Stripes for the bright lights of the Premier League. After some early struggles, Almirón endeared himself to the Newcastle fans through his work rate and tenacity. His peak came during the 2022-23 season when he scored 11 goals in 41 games across all competitions.

"I think the fans in Newcastle also treated me really well," he said. "I think it's the same level of affection that I've received from both fan bases. I'm always going to be grateful to the Newcastle fans for that, for my time during my six years there. But that's the same kind of respect and affection that I feel from the fans here in Atlanta."

When Almirón departed in 2018, the Paraguay international's dynamic runs down the wing were what caught the eye. Now 30, Almirón feels that Atlanta is getting an even more rounded player than when he left.

"I think in the six years that I was in England, that experience helped," he said. "I think I've matured and I think I'll try to use that experience. I'll try to bring that to the group here to try to help the group in the ways that I can. And I think for those reasons, they also brought me back."

While Almirón spoke of how not much had changed with Atlanta United, one difference is that the forward with whom he connected so often, Josef Martínez, has long since departed, and is now with the San Jose Earthquakes. Almirón said the two are still close.

"I always speak with him. He's one of my best friends in football, so I've shared a lot of things with him and we talk," he said. "These things happen in football. We take different paths as players. So when I left I was taking a different path to go to Newcastle ... God willing, maybe we will find a way to meet again."

Tottenham Hotspur's hopes of bolstering their injury-depleted squad were dented on Friday after Bayern Munich forward Mathys Tel rejected the opportunity to join Ange Postecoglou's side, sources have told ESPN.

Tel has informed Bayern of his intention to explore new opportunities in the January transfer window and sources told ESPN that Spurs had a 60 million ($62.5m) offer for the player accepted by the Bundesliga giants on Thursday.

The 19-year-old has attracted interest from Premier League clubs keen to add the highly-rated France under-21 international to their squad.

Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal all retain an interest in the player, while Aston Villa see him as a possible replacement for Jhon Durán after the Colombia international left them for Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr.

Sources have told ESPN that Tottenham were hopeful that their offer of a clearer path to the first team would convince Tel to join them after he has been restricted to just 458 minutes in 14 games across all competitions for Bayern this season. However, the plethora of opportunities available to Tel prompted him to turn down a move to Spurs.

The north London club are keen to strengthen their squad for under-fire head coach Postecoglou and have refocused their search to other targets.

Sources have told ESPN that Spurs are exploring a deal to sign AC Milan and England defender Fikayo Tomori but negotations are not advanced.

While the club had been scouring the market for additions in defence, a worrying-looking knee injury suffered by centre-back Radu Dragusin in their Europa League victory over Elfsborg on Thursday has brought forward their search for a new centre-back.

Spurs' ongoing injury crisis has left Postecoglou in despair with several key players still sidelined for another week or two.

Guglielmo Vicario, Cristian Romero, Destiny Udogie, James Maddison, Wilson Odobert, Brennan Johnson, Timo Werner and Dominic Solanke are all absent with injuries.

"They are all kind of [going to return] around the same time, around 10 days. We are talking about Vicario, Johnson, Destiny, Wilson, Timo," Postecoglou told a news conference on Friday.

"Romero is a bit of a tricky one. We are not really sure yet. There is still some work he needs to do.

"Certainly all those guys, I think of the long-term ones apart from Dom [Solanke] who is probably a week behind them, the rest of them are slated to be back in the next week to 10 days to be available."

Spurs have won one of their last 11 Premier League matches and are languishing in 15th place in the table.

Amidst a form crisis and mounting injuries, Postecoglou highlighted the need to strengthen the squad in the January transfer window, particularly given Dragusin's injury.

"I think depending on the extent of Radu's [injury], it might be an area we need to look at and certainly this weekend [we are] exploring some options," he added.

Postecoglou's side travel to face Brentford in the Premier League in their next fixture on Sunday.

Information from Reuters contributed to this report

Neymar has rejoined Santos, the Brazilian club where both he and Pelé made their names.

Santos posted a video captioned "ThePrinceIsBack" on X in which Neymar said: "King Pelé, your wish is my command, the throne and the crown they are still yours, because you are eternal.

"But the No. 10, it will be an honour to wear the sacred jersey that represents so much for Santos and the world. I promise to do everything I can to keep honouring your legacy, King."

Saudi Pro League club Al Hilal announced on Monday that they had reached an agreement with Neymar to terminate his contract after the Brazil star scored one goal in six appearances during an injury-hit 18 months in the Gulf nation.

The former Barcelona star tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee while on international duty shortly after signing for Al Hilal. He returned to the pitch in October, but a hamstring injury prevented him from making a telling contribution to the club.

Neymar began his professional career with Santos in 2009 and developed into one of the brightest young talents in world football as he inspired them to a Copa Libertadores triumph in 2011.

He has earned 128 caps for Brazil, scoring a Selecao-record 79 goals -- two more than Pelé. Neymar was part of the Brazil side that won the gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics, which was held in Rio de Janeiro.

Information from Reuters contributed to this report

TAMPA, Fla. -- The Buccaneers stayed in-house to fill the void left by Liam Coen at offensive coordinator, hiring passing game coordinator Josh Grizzard for the role Friday.

Grizzard has spent only one season with the team, but he was responsible for a third-down offense that converted at a 50.9% rate, the highest in the NFL and a franchise record, and its 45.9% third-down passing percentage also a league high. In addition, the Bucs' 64.4% third-down rushing percentage was third highest in franchise history, as was their 67.7% third-and-short conversion rate. Their 33% third-and-long conversion rate ranked third in the league.

"Josh is bright and innovative and was instrumental in our game planning and play design over the last year," Bucs coach Todd Bowles said. "After interviewing several outstanding candidates throughout this process, it ultimately became clear that our best option was here in our building. We had a lot of success offensively last season and during our conversations, Grizz provided some great ideas on how we can build on that. His familiarity with our offense, our players and the staff will ensure the continuity that is crucial for sustained success."

The elevation of Grizzard, who is well-liked among players, allows the Bucs to maintain as much continuity as possible in their passing game, particularly with quarterback Baker Mayfield, who threw a career-best 41 touchdowns in 2024.

He will be the eighth offensive coordinator for Mayfield in his eight seasons in the league.

Prior to joining Tampa Bay, Grizzard spent seven seasons with the Miami Dolphins wearing a number of different coaching hats: offensive quality control (2017-18), quality control (2019), wide receivers coach (2020-21) and offensive quality control (2022-23).

He got his start as a student assistant at Yale in 2012 and then was a graduate assistant/quality control coach at Duke from 2013-16.

The Bucs interviewed multiple candidates for the job after Coen left to become coach of the Jaguars: Chargers passing game coordinator Marcus Brady; Minnesota Vikings assistant offensive coordinator/assistant quarterbacks coach Grant Udinski; Rams offensive assistant/pass game specialist Nate Scheelhaase, tight ends coach/pass game coordinator Nick Caley and quarterbacks coach Dave Ragone; and Grizzard, the only internal candidate interviewed.

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. -- If he's back with the New York Jets in 2025, Aaron Rodgers' new offensive coordinator will be former Detroit Lions assistant Tanner Engstrand.

Engstrand, 42, agreed to terms with the Jets on Friday, a source confirmed to ESPN. He is familiar with newly hired coach Aaron Glenn, as they spent the past four seasons together on Dan Campbell's staff. Engstrand was the passing game coordinator for an offense that scored a league-high 564 points in 2024.

Fox Sports and Houston's KPRC first reported the agreement.

Once again, the Jets will go into the season with a first-time head coach and a first-time playcaller on offense. They did the same thing in 2021 with Robert Saleh and Mike LaFleur, who was pushed out after two seasons.

Engstrand walks into a historically unstable job that, for now, has a historically great quarterback.

He will be the Jets' 11th playcaller in the past 15 years, probably one of the reasons why they have the 32nd-ranked scoring offense over that span.

Rodgers, 41, is undecided on whether to play a 21st season. Likewise, the Jets haven't said if they want to move forward with the future Hall of Famer, whose 2024 performance was uneven. Glenn, in his introductory news conference Monday, said Rodgers will be evaluated just like every player on the roster.

The four-time MVP has had only four playcallers in his career: Mike McCarthy and Matt LaFleur with the Green Bay Packers and Nathaniel Hackett and Todd Downing with the Jets. Downing took over last season when Hackett was demoted in Week 6.

The defensive-minded Glenn will lean heavily on Engstrand as they chart a course for the offense, which finished 24th in scoring this season.

Also on Friday, the Jets hired Chris Harris as pass game coordinator and defensive backs coach, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter. Harris spent the past two seasons in a similar role with the Tennessee Titans and had interviewed for the Jets defensive coordinator position.

And the Jets announced the hiring of Chris Banjo as their special teams coordinator. Banjo, 34, who replaces Brant Boyer, spent the past two seasons as a special teams assistant for the Denver Broncos following a 10-year playing career.

Engstrand was considered a possible replacement for former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson, who left to become the Chicago Bears' head coach, but he was passed over when Campbell opted to go outside the organization to hire John Morton from the Broncos.

Engstrand is a Jim Harbaugh disciple, having worked under Harbaugh at the University of San Diego and Michigan. Engstrand has called plays at the college level (San Diego) and in the XFL (D.C. Defenders) but has no NFL playcalling experience. He has a distant connection to new Jets general manager Darren Mougey, who were both quarterbacks at San Diego State in 2004.

The San Diego native spent his next 13 years as an assistant at USD before following Harbaugh to Michigan. In 2020, he landed with the Lions as an offensive assistant under coach Matt Patricia, who was fired that year. Engstrand was retained by Campbell in 2021, starting as the tight ends coach and eventually being promoted to passing game coordinator.

Engstrand inherits an offense with two talented wide receivers in Garrett Wilson and Davante Adams, though there is a chance Adams will be released in a salary-cap-related move. He also gets a versatile running back in Breece Hall and four returning starters on the offensive line.

The big question is the uncertainty at quarterback, one of the reasons why their top coordinator target -- Los Angeles Rams passing game coordinator Nick Cailey -- reportedly declined an interview.

If Rodgers doesn't return, the Jets probably will add a quarterback. The top quarterbacks under contract are backup Tyrod Taylor, 35, and 2024 fifth-round pick Jordan Travis, who missed his rookie year due to a college injury.

SAN FRANCISCO -- Phoenix Suns star Devin Booker, one of several prominent All-Star snubs, said he believes it's time for the NBA to expand rosters for the league's midseason showcase.

Teams have been allowed to have 15 active players since the 2020-21 season, but the All-Star rosters remain limited to 12 players from each conference.

Booker, a four-time All-Star who is averaging 25.5 points and 6.7 assists per game, would be on board with expanding All-Star rosters to 15 to match the limit for the league's teams.

"I think there's enough talented guys out here that are deserving," Booker said after Friday's shootaround at the Chase Center. "I mean, you look at Kyrie [Irving], Norman Powell, those guys are having unbelievable, efficient years and winning games. And on the East, I'm sure there's guys too like Trae [Young] and LaMelo [Ball] that are just putting up unheard-of numbers. So the more talent in there, the better I think."

Seven of the league's top 20 scorers were not selected for the All-Star Game, a list that includes Charlotte's Ball, Philadelphia's Tyrese Maxey, Phoenix's Booker, Sacramento's De'Aaron Fox, Dallas' Irving, the Clippers' Powell and Chicago's Zach LaVine.

NBA rebounding leader Domantas Sabonis was not selected despite averaging 20.9 points and 6.6 assists in addition to his league-high 14.5 rebounds per game for the Kings. Neither was Atlanta's Trae Young, who leads the league with 11.4 assists per game and averages 22.5 points.

Ball, who ranks fourth in scoring (28.2 points per game) and ninth in assists (7.3) for the 12-32 Hornets, didn't make the cut despite getting the most fan votes among Eastern Conference backcourt players. He became the first player to lead his position group in fan voting to not be named an All-Star since voting changed in 2016-17 to also factor in media and player voting to determine starters.

All-Star reserves are selected via anonymous voting by coaches.

"Obviously it's something that I wanted to be a part of, but definitely not going to complain about taking a week to regroup with the family," Booker said. "So it's always going to be the conversation every year. Who got snubbed? Who didn't? And there's a lot of people that are deserving."

HIS INSTAGRAM HANDLE, @easymoneysniper, sums up the essence of Kevin Durant's scoring ability.

His teammates, even the fellow future Hall of Famers, have always been in awe of how uniquely smooth, simple and pure Durant makes getting buckets look. That has been the case from the time he broke into the league as a rail-thin teenager to now, when Durant continues to rank among the league's most prolific, efficient scorers in the 18th season of his career.

"He's that guy that you see almost like a monument in a science museum of just like, what does a great scorer look like?" former Brooklyn Nets and Team USA teammate Kyrie Irving told ESPN. "Seven feet, able to handle the ball, able to shoot over anybody, but also a fierce competitor."

Durant had established himself as a historically elite scorer before he even hit his prime, winning four NBA scoring titles by the age of 25. Only Michael Jordan (10) and Wilt Chamberlain (7) have claimed more scoring crowns. Durant has racked up points with remarkable precision, joining Larry Bird and Steve Nash as the only players in NBA history with multiple 50/40/90 shooting-split seasons. And he hasn't declined at age 36, averaging 27.1 points this season, which matches his career average that ranks sixth all time. It's the 16th season that Durant has averaged at least 25 points, which is more than everyone in league history except for LeBron James (20).

Durant is approaching the 30,000-point milestone entering Friday's game against the Golden State Warriors (10 p.m. ET on ESPN), just 94 points shy of becoming only the eighth member of that exclusive NBA club.

Ahead of Durant's latest scoring milestone, several of his teammates over the years discussed the elements that make the 15-time All-Star one of the most unique, complete scorers ever to pick up a basketball.

Seattle SuperSonics/Oklahoma City Thunder, 2007 to 2016: 17,566 points in 641 games (27.4 PPG)

Durant won Rookie of the Year during the SuperSonics' final season in Seattle and emerged as the peach-fuzzed face of the franchise for the NBA's most exciting young team soon after the move to Oklahoma City.

The Thunder drafted Russell Westbrook and James Harden early in the next two lotteries after selecting Durant with the No. 2 pick, giving Oklahoma City a nucleus of three future MVPs. Durant shined the brightest of the young stars, winning his first scoring title in his third season, when he averaged 30.1 points.

Durant claimed four scoring crowns in a five-year span -- and joined the prestigious 50/40/90 club in the one season during that stretch that he didn't lead the league in scoring. He won the 2013-14 MVP as a 25-year-old who averaged a career-best 32.0 points.

The Thunder seemed destined for multiple championships when Durant, at age 23, led Oklahoma City to the 2012 NBA Finals. Alas, the Thunder never made it back to that stage, as Sixth Man of the Year Harden was traded before the next season, and a combination of injuries and the Golden State dynasty kept getting in Oklahoma City's way before Durant opted to leave in free agency in the summer of 2016.

Nick Collison (SuperSonics/Thunder, 2007 to 2016): "There were other guys that were changing the game, but it was more like bigs who could shoot and maybe put it on the floor a little bit in straight lines. He could really play on the perimeter and he's 7 feet tall. That was what hit me right away. ... He's doing a move like a 6-foot-5 guy, but all of a sudden he's at the rim and he's barely jumping. He's reaching out and dunking the ball. I just hadn't seen it before. ... To do it at 7 feet, no one had done it like that and very few guys have done it since."

Jeff Green (SuperSonics/Thunder, 2007 to 2011; Nets, 2020-21): "It's rare that you have seen a guy who is a legit 7-foot who can handle how he handles but also stop. He stops under control to get to a shot. You can't block it. ... I've never seen -- in recent history, today's game -- a guy that tall with the handle that he has [and] that's super smooth that can do what he does."

James Harden (Thunder 2009 to 2012; Team USA, 2012; Nets, 2020 to 2022): "His change of pace, change of direction ... he'll get you leaning one way and once he crosses back over, he's so tall that if you're not on his hip, he's shooting right over you or he's getting to the basket. That right there automatically is just a different type of a handle for a 7-footer. You really don't see that. I don't see [another] guy at 7 feet that can shoot it fluidly like him and handle the rock and do the things he do."

Kendrick Perkins (Thunder, 2011 to 2015): "KD's post-up game -- midpost [and] at the elbow -- I think that's what he's mastered. He mastered that from having a lot of battles in the Western Conference against Dirk Nowitzki. Then you see him add so much to his game. Whether that's the turnaround over both shoulders, whether that's the one-legged fadeaway. I think adding that to his game helped him elevate in all other areas. Once he mastered that, eight out of 10 times it's going in or he's going to the foul line."

Golden State Warriors, 2016 to 2019: 5,374 points in 208 games (25.8 PPG)

Durant felt the wrath of critics after deciding to leave a contender to join a Golden State core that had won a title and was coming off a record-setting 73-win regular season. But nobody can rip the results of his Bay Area tenure.

Durant's scoring numbers dipped while sharing the ball with the Splash Brothers, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, but he was a dominant force for some all-time great teams. The Warriors went to the Finals in all three of Durant's seasons with the franchise and won titles the first two years. Durant was the Finals MVP on both occasions, averaging 35.2 points in the 2017 five-game series victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers and 28.8 points in the next season's sweep of the rematch.

But Durant's stint with the Warriors ended with disappointment following a season filled with turmoil fueled by speculation about his looming free agency. He missed a month during the playoffs with a calf strain before returning for Game 5 of the Finals, when the Toronto Raptors had the Warriors on the brink of elimination. Durant ruptured an Achilles tendon during the second quarter, which ended up being his final moments in a Golden State uniform.

Nevertheless, it was a three-year run of historic greatness.

Stephen Curry (Warriors, 2016 to 2019; Team USA, 2024): "Pure talent and work ethic. I mean, it doesn't happen by accident. He's been blessed with a certain skill set with his height. You can't really rush him. He can see over pretty much most defenders. And if there's a taller guy on, he can use his counters and all that to get good looks. But you have to worry about all three levels, and he can put it on the floor, too. So it's kind of pick your poison."

Zaza Pachulia (Warriors, 2016 2018): "He could score anywhere -- inside, outside. If you just look at his inside game, it was as good as anyone else, either post-up or attacking the rim. His outside shooting was as good as Steph -- shooting over the people, shooting on the move."

Klay Thompson (Warriors, 2016 to 2019; Team USA, 2016): "How many 7-footers can shoot the ball from that deep like him? Maybe Dirk, Wemby now. His ball skills and his shooting touch is what I'm so impressed with. I've seen him shoot over everybody. I think I get him from 3, but his midrange is the best I've ever seen."

Draymond Green (Warriors, 2016 to 2019; Team USA, 2016, 2021): "I mean, there's no bad shot for him. He's 7-feet, dribbles the ball like a point guard, shoots the ball like shooting guards, dunks the ball like centers. ... If you're a little behind, he's 7-feet so it don't affect his shot. You have to be right on him in order to get a contest to where it affects him at all. And you can get that same contest and he still will make it."

Curry: "It's a combination of being a three-level scorer and the efficiency that he has had his whole career. I know we're both kind of obsessed with the 50/40/90 pursuit -- and he got it one year [in Golden State] -- but the way he does it is totally different than the way I do it. Just the fact that he's such a graceful, efficient scorer no matter what defense you really throw at him, to do it for that many years is really impressive. So there's a reason people talk about him as the greatest legitimate scorer ever."

Brooklyn Nets, 2019 to 2023: 3,744 points in 129 games (29.0 PPG)

Durant joined forces with his friend Irving in free agency -- and eventually Harden again via a forced trade from the Houston Rockets -- to form the NBA's next superteam in Brooklyn. The possibilities were deemed well worth waiting a full season as Durant sat out the first year of his deal while recovering from an Achilles injury. But the Nets fizzled, as that trio played a total of only 16 games together before breaking up under the weight of drama and dysfunction.

But Brooklyn was so close to breaking through. How close? Maybe only a couple of inches away.

The most memorable singular moment from Durant's Nets tenure -- and arguably his career -- was his toes-on-the-3-point-line turnaround jumper in the final seconds of regulation in Game 7 of the 2021 Eastern Conference semifinals. Instead of hitting a game winner to beat the Milwaukee Bucks, Durant sent the game into overtime. The Bucks, the eventual champions, prevailed. The Nets were eliminated despite Durant's 48-point, 53-minute performance alongside a hobbled Harden (hamstring) and without Irving (ankle).

The Nets never won another playoff game. The rest of Durant's time in Brooklyn was marred by controversy involving his co-stars, resulting in first Harden and then Irving getting their trade requests granted. Durant was the last of the trio out the door, as the Nets dealt him when it became apparent that a rebuild was necessary.

Harden: "He don't care where you at. You could be a tall defender, shorter defender. Once he raises up, all he sees is that rim. It's unbelievable."

Royce O'Neale (Nets, 2022-23; Suns, 2024 to present): "He's stronger than you think and he looks. He uses his body and his athleticism to shoot over you, to get to the elbows. His hesi pull, you might know it's coming, but he's still getting it off. It's just all the hard work and routine for him and the craft that he puts in. Once he gets there, you better hope he misses, but it's tough. You can't block it. It's a high-arching shot. I always say he's the toughest player I've had to guard."

Jeff Green: "Obviously he's a volume shooter, but the efficiency of how he scores, it's not like he's going 6-for-25. He's going a cool 13-for-19, 14-for-20. It's not like people are making him miss. If he misses, it's because he missed. And he makes a lot of tough shots."

Kyrie Irving (Team USA 2016; Nets, 2019 to 2023): "He's a scientist out there. He's always hovering around 50/40/90. Man, he's like an efficient machine when it comes to breaking down how he goes about scoring and doing it for so long."

Spencer Dinwiddie (Nets, 2019 to 2021): "He's just really good at, no matter where he is at on the floor, just kind of getting square up to the basket and then [shooting with a] high release point. And obviously you're not going to block it. The balance, the rhythm and all that stuff, it's just something you've never seen from a 7-footer before. KD's just pure skill. He's just smooth. We ain't never seen nothing like it. We probably never will, to be honest."

Phoenix Suns, 2023 to present: 3,222 points in 119 games (27.1 PPG)

Mat Ishbia made a massive splash in his first night as Suns owner, pulling off a blockbuster deal to pair Durant with perennial All-Star shooting guard Devin Booker. The cost was steep: a package that featured forwards Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson, who were key members of the Suns' 2021 Finals squad, along with four unprotected first-round picks and a swap.

Durant's scoring brilliance has continued in the desert -- "His longevity, it's undeniable," former Suns teammate Chris Paul said -- but Phoenix's ultra-aggressive front office has failed to construct a contender-caliber supporting cast around its star duo.

The Suns, who have been trying hard to turn their limited assets into another trade upgrade, are mired in play-in territory despite Durant not having slowed down as he nears another milestone.

Bradley Beal (Suns, 2023 to present): "People don't really understand how good his feet are. Granted for his size, too, just his ability to be able to get by his defender with the first quick step, whether that's with a jab or just a simple just catch and rip. ... I think that's probably what separates him from a lot of guys, is just that continuity of being able to constantly get to your spot without any resistance almost. ... As a defender, you have to press up on him because [if] you sit off of him, he can just rise up over you. But the minute you press up on him, he's really talented enough to get low, sweep through, jab you one way and you're gone."

O'Neale: "He knows exactly where he wants to get and what type of shots he wants to shoot. I think the fact that he's unpredictable in a lot of it matters. You never know if he's going to hit you with a pull-up, drive, fadeaway. He's just got so many things that he can counteract with. That makes him so tough to guard -- just his counterattacks versus you, the way he sees the game and the way he shoots the ball."

Tyus Jones (Suns, 2024 to present): "Practice, games -- he shoots at a high clip all the time. It's very impressive and it's motivating to be around that, to be around the greatness of that and to see his work ethic. He -- knock on wood -- rarely has an off night. He's able to get to his spots, he scores at every level, different ways, going right, going left. So I would say the efficiency is just the most impressive. He's not shooting a ton of shots to score a bunch of points."

Mason Plumlee (Suns, 2024 to present): "It feels like he's never forced a shot. The thing that kind of also made me think of that was I was watching him do a podcast with JJ [Redick], and JJ is like, 'Why don't one game you just shoot it every time? You can raise up over and just [shoot].' He's a pure basketball player, so he's not going to take bad shots [although] he has every right to, and nobody would say anything to him if he wants to. So even his end-of-clock, tough shots against two guys, he makes 'em look fundamental. I mean, it's amazing. Some guys that hit two, three shots in a row, they're shooting the next one. The heat check will be just a disgusting shot. And Kev just takes good shots."

Jones: "You put smaller guys on him, he shoots over the top of them. Put bigger guys on him, he's going to make them dance. So it's just a mismatch and he scores very, very effortlessly."

Beal: "You try not to be a fanboy, but it's amazing to see for sure."

Devin Booker (Suns, 2022 to present; Team USA, 2021, 2024): "We've never seen it before. Everyone tries to emulate it, and we still haven't seen it. So he's just a one-of-a-kind type player and the greatest scorer to ever live."

ESPN's Tim Bontemps and Michael C. Wright and ESPN Research's Matt Williams contributed to this report.