Kevin Durant ankle injury influences Phoenix Suns roster history

The Phoenix Suns traded Kevin Durant to the Houston Rockets before the 2025 NBA Draft, prompting a retrospective look at the potential impact of his 2023 pregame ankle injury. After being acquired from the Brooklyn Nets in February 2023, Durant appeared in only three games before slipping during warmups and missing 10 contests. Phoenix posted a 4-6 record during his absence before concluding the regular season as the fourth seed in the Western Conference. Analyses suggest that a fully available Durant might have altered the team's final standings and subsequent playoff path against opponents such as the Golden State Warriors and Los Angeles Lakers. This injury-interrupted campaign eventually influenced management decisions, including the firing of Monty Williams and the trade of Chris Paul for Bradley Beal.

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