Will Kevin Durant play against OKC Thunder on Friday, 24th Feb? NBA analyst issues telling update on his return
The Kevin Durant trade turned the NBA on its side, but fans have had to wait to see the former MVP take the floor for his new team. Prior to the deal, he suffered an MCL injury that's had him sidelined since mid-January.
Following recent updates, it appears there is a target date for KD to make his Phoenix Suns debut. During a recent appearance on ESPN, NBA insider Brian Windhorst cited that the team is eyeing this Sunday as a game where Kevin Durant could suit up.
"Within Durant's camp and within the team there's an expectation that Sunday's game in Milwaukee could be more likely than Friday against the Thunder," Windhorst said.
Kevin Durant could make his Suns debut as early as Sunday against Milwaukee, according to @WindhorstESPN ☀️ https://t.co/uscuZ0PwqJ
Before going down to injury, Durant was averaging 29.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.3 assists for the Brooklyn Nets.
Will Kevin Durant play on Friday vs. OKC Thunder?
Before the Phoenix Suns take on the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday, they will face a team Durant knows all too well in the OKC Thunder. While he's had the extra time to rest over the All-Star break, it doesn't appear that him playing in that game is possible.
An early return doesn't appear in the realm of possibility based on Windhorst's comments. Durant admitted that his knee feels good, but he wants to make sure it is 100%. The goal is for him to do some five-on-five work with Phoenix and see how his body feels.
How many games will Kevin Durant have to get in rhythm with the Suns?
After the Suns made the move for Durant, it instantly put them in the hunt to win a title. Alongside Chris Paul, Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton, Phoenix has more than enough firepower to come out of the Western Conference.
While they have the pieces, time is not on their side. It will be a sprint to the playoffs as this group tries to figure things out on the fly.
If Kevin Durant does debut against the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday, he will have 21 total games left in the regular season. It is not a perfect situation, but one the Suns must deal with as they look to get back to the NBA Finals.
One thing they do have going for them is having two elite talents in Paul and KD. Having one of the best floor generals in history along with one of the best plug-and-play guys ever should allow them to make things work with ease.