Where is Kevin Durant? Suns Star’s Prolonged Locker Room Stay Sparks Fresh Injury Concerns

Do the Phoenix Suns have one more big hump on their way? Not long ago, Kevin Durant missed seven games in a row dealing with a calf injury, which put the team on an embarrassing losing streak, losing 6 of the 7 games. While the team looked to repair the damage, they seemed to have another setback. Tonight, playing against the SA Spurs in the NBA Cup challenge, the superstar has once again sparked the injury trouble.

Following the three-game winning streak since his return, the Suns looked to build on that against the inexperienced Spurs. After a decent effort in the first half, heading to the locker room with a 4-point lead supported by KD’s 13 points in 16 minutes. However, following that, the Slim Reaper didn’t return to the court for the second half. Gerald Bourguet, a senior reporter, stated that the superstar walked back to the locker room midway through the half-time warm-ups.

Moreover, a report from Arizona Sports stated that Kevin Durant tweaked his ankle late in the second quarter and remained in the locker in the third quarter. Above all, as the final nail in the coffin, another update from Bourguet revealed that KD won’t return for the rest of the game, citing a left ankle sprain.

While the severity of the injury hasn’t been disclosed yet, uncertainty looms over the Valley side. Usually, an ankle sprain will leave a player out of action for about 2-10 games depending on the severity. Recently, the Sixers ruled out Andre Drummond for 3 games after he tweaked his ankle against the Pistons. So, the Suns have to go through a stretch without Kevin Durant. Hopefully, he makes a quick return!

How will Kevin Durant’s absence affect the Suns?

The Suns currently stand in the 7th seed with an 11-8 record. It’s important to note that the team had an 8-game winning streak within that record. Before Kevin Durant sustained that calf injury, the team went on a rampage, winning 8 games in a row, and looked like sealing the West. And it all went crashing down during his absence.

So, it’s important to note that the Suns, despite having superstar guards like Devin Booker and Bradley Beal in the lineup, need a Slim Reaper to take the expensive side across the line. Moreover, the upcoming injury hiatus could harm the team differently as they approach the knockout stage of the NBA Cup. D-Book, the team’s core member, also doesn’t deny the fact that KD is indeed the centerpiece of the roster.

Speaking of him ahead of the season, he said, “He’s one of the greatest to ever do it… He’s more vocal than what people say he is, but he also leads by example every day. He’s the loudest one in practice and first in every drill. The pace of his individual workouts is second to none.” Tonight, the Suns managed to win the game without Durant’s presence in the second half. Can they manage until he returns? Let us know in the comments.