6:26pm: Durant will have his sprained left ankle reassessed in three weeks, the team has announced (Twitter link).
Durant’s return timeline will be determined by how he recuperates, says Shams Charania of The Athletic (via Twitter). Swelling in the ankle has already improved, sources tell Charania.
7:03am: After Suns star Kevin Durant suffered an ankle injury during pregame warmups on Wednesday and exited Footprint Center in a walking boot, there’s concern within the organization that he’ll be diagnosed with a Grade 2 sprain, according to Greg Moore of The Arizona Republic.
Durant is expected to undergo more testing on his ankle on Thursday to determine the severity of the sprain. However, because the team isn’t scheduled to practice until Friday, we may have to wait another day for an official update, tweets Gerald Bourguet of PHNX Sports.
If it’s deemed to be a Grade 2 sprain, it would likely sideline Durant for four-to-six weeks, jeopardizing his ability to play another regular season game, writes Moore. The Suns’ regular season finale is exactly one month from today.
Durant’s injury occurred when he was driving to the basket during warmups prior to what would have been his first home game as a Sun. He slipped and went to the floor as he attempted to jump for a layup attempt (Twitter video link via Kellan Olson of ArizonaSports.com).
Hopefully Durant’s injury is less serious than a Grade 2 sprain, but if that’s the diagnosis, he and the Suns can certainly count on a multi-week absence.
LaMelo Ball, Chris Duarte, and Justise Winslow are among the players who have suffered Grade 2 ankle sprains so far this season — Ball missed nearly five weeks, Duarte was out for a little over six weeks, and Winslow remains on the shelf nearly two-and-a-half months after injuring his ankle (though that recovery process seems abnormally long).
More recently, Anfernee Simons was diagnosed with a Grade 2 sprain last month and returned in just over two weeks, but aggravated the injury in his first game back; Hamidou Diallo was ruled out for at least three-to-four weeks after sustaining a Grade 2 sprain on Monday.
Durant, who was still recovering from an MCL sprain when he was acquired a month ago at the trade deadline, has only appeared in three games for his new club. However, teammate Chris Paul said after Wednesday’s win over Oklahoma City that he’s not worried about the Suns not having enough time to jell due to KD’s injury (Twitter link via Bourguet). For what it’s worth, Phoenix won all three of its games with Durant – all on the road – by an average margin of 13 points.
The basketball gods are still undefeated.
And he did it in his ‘designed’ sneakers. I think he needs to wear someone else’s design. Apparently he’s his own worst enemy.
I been saying 2 of the 3 wont play in playoffs, this was much quicker than even I thought possible.
Getting old sucks. Source: old person.
No matter how great you are, and even more than Father Time, Father Health catches up to you. Whether it’s trying to stay healthy, remaining spry after a B2B, etc., it all becomes harder after a certain age. KD, LeBron, Kobe…all former ironmen who finally wore down in their later years, to name just a few more recent examples.
Just another reason why, if I were the Suns, I wouldn’t have went all-in on someone like KD. Still a tremendous talent, but they will need timing on their side to get what they want out of him. It just makes the value proposition all the more harder when you have to pencil in the injuries associated with aging (or in general).
(Yes, I realize this was a slip and fall injury, but the general point still applies lol).
I’d be really curious to see these “tests”. Just very strange situation…something is definitely off.
Just cause someone agreed with you about the ja situation being fishy doesnt mean that every single event in the NBA is now “strange circumstance”
Look at the video. It’s clear. What is wrong with you?
Guess what. I don’t trust Durant. He made a promise to the Nets and broke it. He signed a contract. Wah wah it wasn’t what I want. Well when you go back on your word you no longer get the benefit of the doubt.
When is the last time a multimillion dollar athlete “slipped” and ended their season? Guys play and practice every day. This isnt some 90s bloopers vhs you buy from a commercial at 3 AM, this is a gigantic industry and a key player.
So forgive me if when I hear KD had an accident it’s a bit hard to believe. Being naive is your prerogative.
It’s hard to believe a player got injured in practice?
Yeah it is. Guys practice every day. When is the last time someone got injured slipping in a puddle? What is he a 3rd grader? Nah uh. I don’t buy it, and no one seems to be able to justify it.
You are unhinged. It’s concerning.
Well, so far your only replies have been insults, i.e. you’ve added nothing to the discussion. At least I made points. Unfortunately for you you can’t refute them…because they’re true.
Provide evidence that Durant is not injured. You are claiming that something is amiss. Show us.
Exhibit A: link to youtu.be
You can’t be serious. Did you make that video?
Ha thanks for the compliment, but no, someone else did because the evidence is out there.
Your turn, hot shot.
I’m still waiting for proof regarding his current injury.
And that wasn’t a compliment. That video was laughable.
So you find me funny? That is still a compliment…but ok.
Here’s your evidence: link to google.com
He keeps playing after the slip. Must not have hurt so bad, huh? Until he put the boot on to sell it. Not sure why you’re even fighting me on this. It’s painfully obvious what’s going on.
Lol
Another laugh. I’m on a roll — with butter! Heh heh
And look who broke the story…”shams”.
What is a sham? Something you pull over a pillow, or something you pull over on someone??
This is way too much for coincidence.
Ok, I wasn’t sure if you were for real but after the video, I have to admit I am convinced.
Also, Devin Booker is obviously a lizard.
It’s called karma and it came back to bite you Kevin Durant.
I’m not going there. I appreciate the way he played for the Nets and probably won’t see another one like him on the Nets. I don’t wish him any ill.
He’s a phenomenal player and, as a Nets’ fan since the days of Buck Williams, it was hard to see him go, but he’s been very fragile. It’s hard to predict the future but that’s the one advantage of a player like Mikal Bridges. You could say he’s been lucky, but, to my knowledge, he has missed very little time in his career.
You could have said since the days of Foots Walker but no…
Actually I believe Buck was there before Foots, but, if you want to get more obscure, I usually list Buck along with Mike Gminski, Darwin Cook and Jan Van Breda Kolff (JVBK).
Durant was fairly solid health-wise until the achilles injury in Golden State.
I thought the Golden State injury was handled horribly wrong, and the Warriors should have refused to play Durant. They knew he had a partially ruptured Achilles, and playing on it would cause more damage, and allowed it anyway. That isn’t exactly looking out for the player, or their health.
A partially ruptured Vs full tear is almost night & day in terms of % of lost ability post injury. Durant has been sort of lucky with performance, but his reliability is gone.
And what about a doctor’s hypocratic oath? Should have been many in the team organization encouraging, or refusing Durant to play.
He’s never been the same since. Granted he got older, but he has been fairly injury laden the last 3-4 seasons.
If you watch the video and focus on his left ankle it doesn’t even look like he slips on a wet spot. It looks like his ankle just gives out on its own.
I came to say the same thing. That is a rolled ankle. The slipping seems like an excuse to hide some embarrassment (maybe).
As someone who has rolled their ankle in basketball several times… when you’re the one experiencing it, it does feel like your leg slips. I think Durant was just describing what he felt and not necessarily blaming the floor or whatever.
The NBA is on the verge of having an “American” superstar problem. Father Time has LeBron and Kevin Durant on the ropes. Chris Paul, Kawhi Leonard, Steph Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving are all now on the wrong side of the hill.
Jayson Tatum is the “American” who the NBA is gonna push hard. Ja Morant is no longer a guy like that. Anthony Edwards bad sophomore year. LaMelo Ball? Ankle had him down most of year. Lonzo repeat?
No new American stud on the horizon.
The best players are now foreign. Jokic, Giannis, Doncic, Embiid, Sabonis and soon to be Wembayana.
Things are changing in the NBA.
Is Scoot Henderson not the consensus #2 prospect? Does Bam Adebayo not exist? How about Jaylen Brown, Tatum’s floormate? Donovan Mitchell, who is having the best season of his career on a young team, surrounded by talent that will keep growing? And how is Anthony Edwards’ second year a factor (and bad? He improved in every category there are numbers for?) He’s been carrying the lopsided T-Wolves this year. Tyreese Haliberton looks like he’s going to be a superstar for years to come.
This is a non-problem (and also, as an American, who cares?). Yeah, foreign players are great. People had the same panic mode around the time that guys like Ginobli, Dirk, and Parker had their peaks, and nothing of the sort happened.
The NBA has been pushing GA pretty hard as the next throne sitter.
I’m not sure the NBA in the last 5 seasons has displayed any desire, need, or want for American anything?
Problem is Doncic, and Jokic are the best players in the NBA. There are a few asterisks I guess, but these guys are reliable, and highly skilled.
There is hope in Tatum, he is a top 10 player this season, and the Celtics have a good team.
The NBA has not shown its support of Doncic, Jokic, or Tatum the way it rolls out red carpets, and pushes media narrative’s for LBJ, and GA.
All of the funded NBA media, large and small goes into overtime about how good, or whatever hip four lettered acronymical euphemism is being applied, Turn up the volume, and put it on beyond repeat. And I mean beyond. Tatum has had some attention no doubt, but I don’t sense he has drunk the Kool-Aid, or been crowned just yet
Wait…why is this a problem exactly?
Welcome to the world of international sports, where some the biggest stars come from all over the planet and that myth of American exceptionalism flies right out the window.
I’d rather America be dominant in intelligence, fairness, generosity, and morality than sports.
Fell short there too it appears…
Ole toothpick legs is hurt again? You don’t say.
And he still will not have played a game at Golden State since he left. I was looking forward to his return.
bro is made of glass LOL
Teams will never learn – trade away young core pieces and sacrifice chemistry for a guy that can’t/won’t stay on the floor and after 2 years of his failure he’ll demand another trade. Oh yea, that’s good for the fans…
Tough blow, rest up
Suns in 4th place now. Can they stay there with KD out. Don’t have the depth they had.
Folks really believe KD would want to miss three wks now. That’s hilarious …
Most stars are divas now. But KD is a player. One thing he’s always done is play.
Do we really take the Grizz and Kings serious now. I’m still not convinced.
We don’t.
Nuggets, Suns, Warriors, one of those three is coming out of the West.
I’m convinced …. always liked Sabonis.
Good game.
Lakers is peeking around the corner…