While the reality of Kevin Durant being a member of the Suns has set in, he has yet to make his debut. That could change soon as Durant’s debut with his new team appears to be on the horizon.
Durant, who put up MVP-caliber numbers over his first 39 games this season, has been sidelined since Jan. 8 with a sprained MCL suffered while he was still a member of the Nets. In the weeks since Phoenix acquired the two-time Finals MVP, the anticipation surrounding his first game in a Suns uniform has grown.
With 20 games remaining in the regular season, the Suns (33-29) are among the top half of the Western Conference standings and will look to finish strong with Durant now in tow.
While Phoenix will certainly take a cautious approach with its 34-year-old superstar, the sooner it can get Durant in the lineup the better, as the team will look to build chemistry and string together wins ahead of the postseason.
When will Durant take the floor for the Suns? Here’s what we know about his potential debut.
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When will Kevin Durant debut for the Suns?
Durant has been out for nearly two months now, but he is seemingly close to returning to action.
At NBA All-Star media day, Durant told reporters that his knee felt “solid” but declined to say when he would actually return to the lineup.
Durant has been ramping up his participation in non-contact drills during practice. On Wednesday, Feb. 22, The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported that Durant and the Suns are targeting March 1 against the Hornets for his return.
Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns are targeting his Suns debut and return to action in next Wednesday’s road game against the Charlotte Hornets, league sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Durant is on cusp of return from MCL sprain that he suffered on Jan. 8.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 22, 2023
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Suns schedule 2022-23
Here is the Suns’ upcoming schedule, which includes a number of marquee matchups:
| Date | Opponent | Time | National TV |
| March 1 | at Hornets | 7 p.m. | — |
| March 3 | at Bulls | 8 p.m. | — |
| March 5 | at Mavericks | 1 p.m. | ABC |
| March 8 | vs. Thunder | 9 p.m. | — |
| March 11 | vs. Kings | 9 p.m. | — |
| March 13 | at Warriors | 10 p.m. | ESPN |
| March 14 | vs. Bucks | 10 p.m. | NBA TV |
| March 16 | vs. Magic | 10 p.m. | NBA TV |
| March 19 | at Thunder | 3:30 p.m. | — |
| March 22 | at Lakers | 10 p.m. | ESPN |