The news all Phoenix fans were worried about just surfaced the web, announcing that Kevin Durant is expected to miss more time as he continues to sustain a left ankle sprain. Sources have told ESPN that the All-NBA forward should be out for at least one to two more weeks for further evaluation.
Phoenix Suns All-NBA forward Kevin Durant will be re-evaluated in one week due to a left ankle sprain. Durant suffered the injury while landing on a Spurs player’s foot during Phoenix’s win on Tuesday night,” insider Shams Charania reported.
The veteran star has been averaging 25.8 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists while shooting 53.6% from the field and 44.9% from 3-point range this 2024-25 campaign, becoming one of the most important players for the club so far.
Devin Booker on losing Kevin Durant and how the Suns responded: “It’s impossible to replace what he brings to our team….But we still fought. They came out, punched us in the face to start the half and we just stuck with it, weathered the storm, and it was a growth moment for us” pic.twitter.com/m6w0R7ei5a
— Gerald Bourguet (@GeraldBourguet) December 4, 2024
His injury occurred while he was sprinting downcourt with 4:30 left in the second quarter during Tuesday’s game against San Antonio. The All-Star attempts to cut between two defenders, stepped on one of their foots, and then immediately fell to the floor in pain.
Durant remained on the court and made both free throws before leaving the game for good 22 seconds later. “It’s part of our league. We’re not any different. There’s not a team in the league that’s not dealing with some in-and-out of the lineups, and hopefully we teach and start to learn a way of playing that’s good for everybody, regardless of who’s healthy and who’s not.
“Other people have opportunities to get more minutes. So, we’ll just see how Kevin is, and you’ve just got to keep playing,” Suns coach Mike Budenholzer said postgame. Despite the injuries, club owner Mat Ishbia knows about the importance of keeping the 14-time All-Star in his roster for years to come.
In fact, the franchise executive wishes him to retire in Arizona. “We hope he finishes his career here in Phoenix,” Ishbia recently told ESPN, as the inevitable question about his retirement keeps coming up as the superstar is already 36-years of age. The Suns organization are already working on a plan to ensure he remains the face of their club.
The Suns coach explained how this news is a ‘big blow’, but also represents a great opportunity for other players to lead the charge
Despite the fact that Phoenix is 11-2 this season with Durant and 1-6 without him, the team’s head coach believes something positive can come out of this. One positive is how star guard Bradley Beal, who missed five of the seven games KD did last month, is now healthy and will co-star with Devin Booker for these next stretch of matches.
Following Tuesday’s game, Budenholzer shared his thoughts on his team’s performance and the impact of the injury on their upcoming plans. “This is a blow in a few different ways when you lose a player like Kevin,” the tactician said. “The third quarter was tough for us, and we seemed to be heading in the wrong direction.”
Nevertheless, he praised his team’s resilience despite the absence of their veteran star: “Mason and Monte had a great stretch. They were instrumental in many plays, not just on the boards. Of course, Devin Booker was outstanding tonight, scoring 15 points in the opening bucket alone. His leadership and voice were key throughout the game. This is a big win for us.”
The Arizona club is set to being a four-game road trip this Thursday in New Orleans against the Pelicans. The Suns are now sitting fifth in the Western Conference standings with a 12-8 record.
