‘Soft Cupcake’ Kevin Durant’s Beef with Frank Vogel Led to Unjust Dismissal of the Coach, Alleges Kendrick Perkins

The Phoenix Suns started the 2023-24 season with fanfare and high hopes. After all, they had a strong offensive combination of Durant-Booker-Beal and a new coach who was supposed to utilize them. The expectations were downturned when the Phoenix Suns left the playoffs without a single win. That sweep translated into changes on the team. Between the players and the coach, it was Frank Vogel who got the axe. It’s a decision that’s not sitting well within the NBA community. One of the people who don’t approve is ESPN analyst, Kendrick Perkins.

Perk is putting the blame on “soft cupcake players who lack accountability over this past season.” Very specifically, he blames Kevin Durant. Rumors of tension between KD and the new coach were rampant throughout the season. Perkins is not only saying the beef was real, but also said that it was the reason behind Vogel’s firing.

Perkins vented his frustration over the spree of coaches like Adrian Griffin and Darvin Ham getting the boot as soon as he came on Sportscenter. The lack of responsibility on the players’ parts for their teams’ playoff losses had him shaking his head. Perkins called it a “ripple effect” that took effect in Phoenix. He has it on good authority that Durant was giving Vogel the cold shoulder for months and his body language showed that on the court.

“Frank Vogel did not deserve to lose his job, but he did because the Phoenix Sons had to make a choice between Frank Vogel and Kevin Durant,” Perkins said before stating the Durant was the obvious option.

He’s not the only NBA veteran and analyst defending Vogel and other coaches. His frenemy at TNT, and Phoenix legend, Charles Barkley blatantly said the Phoenix Suns “suck” because of the players and not the coaches. And in his opinion, the blame is on the people who put together a poorly constructed team. Something Perkins said so here too.

Kendrick Perkins points out the real issue in Phoenix

Kendrick Perkins ranted the same on his ESPN show, calling it a business decision by the team to pick Durant over Vogel. But he points out more than once now that the Suns haven’t solved the glaring problem on the roster which even the TNT guys have pointed out. For too long now the Suns have a ‘point guard problem.’ As in, they have none.

Between Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal, Perkins reiterated that the Suns, “don’t have a real point guard. You don’t have somebody in the middle to really protect the rim.”

Perkins is looking at Vogel being the fall guy for some poor roster construction. Meanwhile OKC and Memphis could mount strong comebacks unless Phoenix fixes the roster issues. Perkins sees doom for the Phoenix Suns at this rate. Do you agree?