DALLAS, TX - MARCH 5: Kevin Durant #35 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball against the Dallas Mavericks in the second half at American Airlines Center on March 5, 2023 in Dallas, Texas. The Suns won 130-126. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
Only a month into his tenure on the Phoenix Suns, Kevin Durant has suffered an ankle injury, and there’s some speculation going around about what impact this may have.
Notably, his new sprain comes shortly after he recovered from a knee injury back in January, which caused him to miss a plethora of games with both the Nets and Suns.
The Arizona Republic reports that KD was spotted exiting the Footprint Center wearing a bulky boot on Wednesday, as he had injured himself during warmups.
Video shows Kevin slipping as he was preparing for the game. While he’s noted as having gotten back up to continue his warmup after the tumble, ESPN reports that he began to notice swelling after he got into the locker room.
As a result of the incident, The Arizona Republic notes that higher-ups are worried that KD may have suffered a grade 2 sprain, which would result in a six- to nine-week recovery period.
As the NBA’s regular season wraps on April 9, this injury could bench Kevin for the remainder of the time, and it could even potentially spill into the beginning of playoffs.
However, ESPN reports that KD is scheduled for an MRI on Thursday to shed further light on just how serious the injury is.
In response to the situation, coach Monty Williams noted that he “feel[s] bad for [Kevin Durant] because he feels bad.”
“I feel bad for him because he feels bad. I saw his face and—I’ve been around him so many times—I know what he’s feeling, and I don’t want him feeling that way at all.”
As The Shade Room previously reported, news that Kevin Durant was being traded to the Suns came just days after Kyrie Irving was traded to the Dallas Mavericks.
Amid various Brooklyn Nets fans’ reactions to the news, Kyrie Irving spoke on the matter during a post-game interview. Notably, Irving proclaimed, “I’m glad he got out of there.”
We wish Kevin Durant a swift and smooth recovery.
