Predicting Kevin Durant's minutes vs Charlotte Hornets in his comeback from injury: How much will Phoenix Suns risk him in 1st appearance?

Now that his anticipated debut is set, Kevin Durant's minutes have become a big topic of conversation. Wednesday's matchup with the Charlotte Hornets will be the first time the former MVP has taken the floor since January 8.

Since it will be his first taste of in-game action in nearly two months, Kevin Durant's minutes are sure to be less than what we're accustomed to seeing. Head coach Monty Williams might have a number in mind but has not disclosed it yet. The last thing the Suns want to do is overexert their new addition in his first game with the team.

Given all the circumstances, most should expect Durant to play around 25 minutes in his Phoenix Suns debut. This gives him enough time to shake the rust off without doing too much. It also gives the new starting lineup an extended chance to test things out with a new star entering the fray.

Before getting injured, Durant was averaging 36 minutes per game with the Brooklyn Nets this season.

The Phoenix Suns have to be careful with Kevin Durant's minutes

After pushing all in at the trade deadline, the Phoenix Suns are now at the top of the list of finals contenders this year. With an MVP-caliber player entering the mix, they are poised to get back to the big stage after coming up just short in 2021.

If the Suns want any shot at competing for a title, they have to be careful with Kevin Durant's minutes moving forward. Even though they need him on the floor as much as possible, overdoing it now could be fatal.

Now in his 16th year in the NBA, Kevin Durant has racked up a ton of mileage. With that has come major injuries that have sidelined him for extended periods.

The biggest injury came in the 2019 finals when Durant was still with the Golden State Warriors. He suffered an achilles tear that cost him nearly two years of his career. While he managed to come back in tremendous fashion, it is still worth noting as he prepares to gear up for another new team.

Along with this recent MCL injury, KD has a lot of wear and tear on him. That being said, Phoenix needs to proceed with extreme caution when it comes to Kevin Durant's minutes.

Kevin Durant won't need much time to get acclimated

Another reason why the Suns shouldn't push Kevin Durant's minutes is because the process of getting him involved won't take long. Since he can play in just about any system, there should be minimal growing pains for Phoenix as they prepare for the postseason.

During his time in Golden State, Durant proved he can still be extremely effective with less touches. He understands that multiple mouths need to be fed and knows when to be aggressive or pull back. On top of this, he'll be playing with one of the best floor generals in the game in Chris Paul.

Health is without a doubt one of the biggest factors in the Suns' title hopes. If they want to be true contenders, they'll need a fully healthy KD when the playoffs begin.