Durant sprained his right MCL in January while still a member of the Nets, and went on to miss the next 20 games. Last year, he sprained his left MCL and missed 21 games. By the time he returned, James Harden had forced his way to Philadelphia and the Nets were in 8th place.
The list of injuries seemingly goes on and on. In 2020-21, a hamstring injury cost Durant 23 games. In the 2019 playoffs, Durant missed nine games with a calf strain, then tore his Achilles in his first game back, costing him the entire 2019-20 season as well. In 2017, it was another left MCL sprain, which cost him 19 games. And in 2014-15, a foot injury limited him to 27 games.
Durant has often returned and excelled in the playoffs after his injuries, like when he won Finals MVP in 2017. But at age 34, his body no longer carries the spring of youth.
Phoenix traded two young forwards, Mikal Bridges and Cameron Johnson, to get Durant. It was an aggressive deal, and it left them with a lack of depth, especially at forward. What makes the Suns’ addition of Durant even riskier is that they’re adding him to a team led by Chris Paul, who has a tough history of postseason injuries in his own right.
In 2015, Paul injured his hamstring in the first round. In 2016, Paul broke his hand in the first round reaching for a steal. In 2018, it was another hamstring injury in Game Five of the conference finals, keeping him out for Houston’s final two losses to Durant and Golden State.
This year, Paul has missed 14 games with a heel injury and another seven with a hip injury.
When everyone’s healthy, this Suns team could be the best in the league. But getting everyone healthy might essentially be impossible at this late juncture. Even with Durant, Paul and Devin Booker on board, the most crucial member of the Suns organization just might be the trainer.
