In professional basketball, every strategic decision, and every injury update can alter the course of a team’s journey to the ultimate goal of being Champions.
The Phoenix Suns, currently riding the waves with a winning record of 19-16 this season, find themselves at a critical crossroad as they navigate through the games without their star player, Kevin Durant, who is sidelined due to an injury.
Kevin Durant injury update
The seasoned head coach for the Phoenix Suns, Frank Vogel, becomes the forerunner of hope as he makes known the narrative surrounding their star forward, Kevin Durant’s health. The stakes seem to be pretty high as the Suns prepare for another match-up without the 2-time NBA finals MVP.
Durant’s absence, because of a right hamstring strain, is painted with nuances as Vogel reassures that the injury isn’t burdened with strains. and sheds light on a 50-50 chance for the former MVP to rejoin the court soon. The coaches at Phoenix are ensuring that Durant only participates in non-contact work and sprint exercises during their practices.
Frank Vogel said Kevin Durant did some shooting at shootaround, but still felt something with the right hamstring strain.
— Duane Rankin (@DuaneRankin) January 6, 2024
Vogel said Durant doesn't have a tear in hamstring. Still "day-to-day."
He's OUT tonight vs. Heat.
Eric Gordon (knee) and Nassir Little (knee) OUT. #Suns https://t.co/vAnSGUYVKv pic.twitter.com/3h5uCzPvje
The “day-to-day” status adds an element of suspense, emphasizing the delicate balance between the urgency winning in regular season and the need to preserve Durant’s peak conditioning for the main games at the playoffs. The Suns currently at 19-16 are scheduled to face the Memphis Grizzlies on a six-game homestand.
Kevin Durant’s injury history
This isn’t the first time the 6’11” forward of the Phoenix Suns, Kevin Durant, is facing some physical setbacks in his professional basketball journey. From ankle twists to hampering MCL sprains, Durant’s injury history is lengthy. KD injured his hamstring in a tough match-up against the Orlando Magic on New Year’s Eve but still managed to secure a 112-107 win for the Phoenix Suns.
Having played the entire game before New Year’s, the star player was sidelined for the next three consecutive games. Despite a 4-2 record without Durant, the team’s cautious approach reflects an understanding of the 35-year-old’s injury-prone history.
As we trace back KD’s injury records, the timeline actually began in the 2014-15 season, a major turning point where a Jones fracture in his right foot forced him to be sidelined after a seven-year stretch of relative good health.
Then came the strained right calf, the torn Achilles in the 2019 NBA Finals, the left hamstring strain in the 2020-21 season, another right MCL sprain in the 2022-23 season. Yet all these injuries weren’t able to stop him from balling.
Can Kevin Durant overcome this injury as swift as possible and make a redemptive return to the court to bring the Suns back on the map for the playoffs? Let us know in the comments down below!
