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Kevin Durant is the newest member of the Phoenix Suns. The Brooklyn Nets traded the 13-time All-Star to the Western Conference, but he will not play for his new team very soon.
The two-time NBA champion is out with a knee injury and has missed the last 14 games. There is currently no timetable for his return and he won't return before the All-Star break.
Jacque Vaughn, the Nets head coach, revealed that KD got a "really good report" during his checkup with the doctor. Unfortunately for the Suns, the superstar forward hasn't been cleared for contact yet.
UPDATE (Feb. 13): Kevin Durant will be out until after the All-Star break, the Phoenix Suns have announced.
Kevin Durant will play his first game for the Phoenix Suns after the All-Star break
The Phoenix Suns have four games left to play before the All-Star break. They are currently on an East Coast road trip and have two more games to play. The Suns will face the Atlanta Hawks on Thursday night, before traveling to Indiana to take on the Pacers.
In their final two games before the break, the Western Conference team will host the Sacramento Kings (Feb. 14) and LA Clippers (Feb. 16).
Right after the break, the Suns will have another road trip. It will begin in Milwaukee and end in Dallas. Considering that Kevin Durant's former teammate, Kyrie Irving, plays for the Mavericks, it would be amazing if he returns by then.
You may be interested in reading: What did Kyrie Irving say about Kevin Durant's trade to Phoenix Suns? Explaining subtle shots fired at Brooklyn Nets, "praying for happiness" comments
While a duel between Irving and Durant is something many NBA fans would love to see, there is no guarantee that the former MVP will return by then.
Kevin Durant's impact on the Suns
The Phoenix Suns have won three straight games and currently have a 30-26 record, good for the fifth spot in the Western Conference. Considering that Devin Booker missed 21 games from December 2022 to February 2023, this record is very impressive.
Kevin Durant is the eighth-best scorer in the NBA in the 2022-23 season. With 29.7 points per game on 55.9% shooting, the four-time scoring champion is also one of the most efficient scorers.
Earning the top seed appears to be out of the question, but they are only four games behind the Memphis Grizzlies, who are second in the conference.
You may be interested in reading: Does the Kevin Durant trade make Phoenix Suns favorites for NBA title? Exploring Suns' odds of landing a championship
The Suns have the sixth-toughest remaining schedule in the league. However, they have three games left to play against the Sacramento Kings and one game against the Dallas Mavericks. If they win these games, they could drastically improve their position in the standings.
