With 4 games left for them in the regular season, it’s time for the Phoenix Suns to take on the Golden State Warriors. But this game represents more than just a clash between two offensive juggernauts in the West. This game also entails Kevin Durant reuniting with the team that helped him become a 2x NBA Champion.
However, you Suns fans must already know this. Kevin has struggled with an injury recently. And this injury has caused the Suns’ losing skid to go from bad to worse this month. So here’s an update on his injury, so we can help answer the question of why he isn’t playing against his former team tonight.
Why isn’t Kevin Durant playing against the Golden State Warriors?
The Phoenix Suns will begin a three-game homestand, with the Warriors being first on the docket. Sadly, Kevin Durant is OUT of this fixture against his former club. Why? Well, on March 30 against the Houston Rockets, Kevin Durant suffered a left ankle sprain.
He missed 3 consecutive games because of this injury. And he is set to miss his 4th on Tuesday. At the time of his injury, it was expected that KD would be out for at least a week. But that window has come and gone and we remain in the dark about when he will return from injury. But let’s switch gears for a bit.
Feb 27, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) in a huddle during a timeout against the New Orleans Pelicans in the fourth quarter at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
We mentioned earlier how the Suns are on a terrible losing streak. But we haven’t talked about how bad it really is. Before they went on this run, the Suns actually stood a solid chance at having a postseason.
However, after losing 6 of their last 10 games, they are now 11th in the West with the 10th seed Mavs having played one more game than them. The Suns will need to start winning without KD’s involvement if they want to enter the Play-In tournament somehow. And a win against the Dubs is imperative to the Suns’ hopes of not ending the regular season as the 11th seed.
But if an ESPN reporter is to be believed, perhaps it’s time for the Phoenix Suns to get used to life without Kevin Durant altogether.
Brian Windhorst reveals what might lie in store for Kevin Durant next season
Kevin Durant reuniting with the Golden State Warriors was one of the biggest storylines coming out of Phoenix this February. Despite him being 36 and having a massive $55 million price tag, it’s hard to argue that KD isn’t worth it. But it was KD himself who blocked that move saying he wanted to know how far he could go with the Suns. But now that all this is clear, a question still lingers. Where will KD end up next season?
While ESPN reporter Brian Windhorst doesn’t exactly names ready for us, he still has some valuable insight on this matter. “Teams that will want Durant will be title contenders who generally have high payrolls already,” he stated. Windy then revealed how this might entail a compromise on the Suns’ part. “If the Suns arrive at a crossroads where they have to move Durant, they might have to make a decision between getting what they want, which is a beautiful package of players and draft capital, and settling for what they need, which is flexibility.” Currently, the Suns have a significant portion of their salary cap tied up in their star players, which could restrict their ability to acquire a “beautiful package of players and draft capital” in a Durant trade, potentially forcing them to prioritize long-term financial flexibility instead.
Windy then compared them to the Clippers, who exchanged Paul George for the aforementioned flexibility. And he claims this has changed their “entire horizon.” With the Clippers in a Playoff spot this season, it’s hard to argue with Windy.
But there you have it. A sprained ankle keeps KD OUT of the Golden State Warriors game tonight. However, the Suns need to decide whether rhey’re okay with not having KD among their ranks next season.
The post Kevin Durant Injury Update: Why Isn’t Suns Superstar Playing Against Warriors Tonight and How Long Will He Be Out? appeared first on EssentiallySports.
