NBA star Kevin Durant returned for the Brooklyn Nets after missing a month due to a lower back injury. Despite concerns about his fitness level, Durant put together an impressive performance in his return game, scoring 23 points and making several crucial plays that helped the Suns get a 105-91 win over the Hornets in Durant’s debut.
Two-time NBA Finals MVP Durant had been sidelined since mid-January due to an injury suffered during a game against the Golden State Warriors. He missed 23 games overall and is working diligently to regain his fitness ahead of his comeback game on April 4.
“I’ve played in almost 1,000 basketball games, but today I was nervous,” Durant told Bally Sports Arizona after the game.
The Nets had been struggling without Durant, with an inconsistent run of results that saw them drop down the Eastern Conference standings. But with Durant back on board, they looked more cohesive as a unit, with the former Oklahoma City Thunder player adding an exciting new dimension to their offensive play.
Durant was visibly off-target in the opening minutes of the game, with his shots often going wide. But eventually, he found his groove and began displaying his trademark shooting abilities, draining a series of three-pointers and mid-range jumpers.
As the game progressed, Durant displayed his defensive prowess by making several crucial blocks and steals to disrupt the Suns’ offense. He was also heavily involved in the closing stages of the contest, making a clutch three-pointer to extend their lead and then hitting a free throw to secure victory in the dying seconds.
The win was crucial for the Nets, who are hoping to secure a high seeding in the Eastern Conference playoffs. If they achieve this feat, they’ll need Durant at his best – he is widely considered one of the league’s top players at 32 years old.
“To get to where we need to go, we have to be efficient basketball players,” Durant said of his pairing with Booker, whom he described as a “pure basketball player” and “one of a kind.”
Durant was pleased with his performance, noting after the game that despite his extended absence he felt “pretty good”. He also thanked his teammates for their support during his injury layoff, noting they had “picked up the slack” in his absence.
“I feel like I fit in pretty well — everybody out there was trying to make me as comfortable as possible, coaches and players as well, so I just gotta keep grinding,” said Durant. “This jersey on me will look normal as games go on, as we start to keep building who we are as a team — and I’m looking forward to it.”
“It’s the highest-level ball in the world … I missed being out on the floor and going over strategy and just talking with the guys, the camaraderie, all that stuff — I missed it all,” said Durant, who also contributed six rebounds, two assists, and two blocks in the win. “I’m glad I got to get back out on the floor today and try to build toward something.”
Kelly Oubre Jr. led Charlotte with 26 points but was just 9-of-24 shooting as the Suns held the Hornets to 36% shooting.
We Can Say, Durant’s return to action was a positive development for both the Nets and NBA as a whole. His star power and talent had been sorely missed in the league, yet it was evident from this game that he is still one of its most dominant players today.
Kevin Durant: Games, Records, and Achievements of the NBA professional basketball player- NBA superstar
Kevin Durant is an NBA professional basketball player who has been playing since 2007. Throughout his career, Durant has represented three teams: Seattle SuperSonics/Oklahoma City Thunder, Golden State Warriors, and Brooklyn Nets. Durant has established himself as one of basketball’s greatest stars and holds several records and accomplishments within the league – here are some highlights:
On January 18, 2014, Durant scored a career-high 54 points in a game against the Golden State Warriors. He made 19 of his 28 field goal attempts and 11 of 13 free throw attempts for an impressive 54% success rate.
On February 19, 2019, Durant became the ninth player in NBA history to score 20,000 points before turning 30 years old, accomplishing this feat during a game against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Durant has earned six selections to the All-NBA First Team (1910, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2018), as well as being named to the All-NBA Second Team three times (2016, 2017, and 2019).
Kevin Durant has earned four NBA scoring titles (2010, 2011, and 2014). During the 2013-14 season, he scored 50.3% from the field, 39.1% from three-point range, and 87.3% at the free throw line for an incredible 87.3%!
Durant has earned 11 All-Star selections throughout his career (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2020), as well as earning two All-Star Game MVP awards (2012 and 2019).
In the 2017 NBA Finals, Durant led the Golden State Warriors to victory and was named its MVP. He averaged 35.2 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game during the series while making 55.6% of his field goal attempts and 47.4% of his three-point attempts – leading the Golden State Warriors to their second championship since 1997.
Durant also earned two Olympic gold medals with the United States men’s basketball team (2012) and 2016.
Final Thoughts
Durant is widely regarded as one of the greatest players in NBA history. He has consistently displayed his scoring prowess, shooting accuracy, and all-around abilities; furthermore, he was an integral part of several championship teams.
Some FAQs about -NBA superstar Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant played for the Thunder from 2007-08 to 2015-16, the Warriors from 2016-17 to 2018-19, the Nets from 2020-21 to 2022-23, and the Suns from 2022-23.
Durant is a small forward, although he has also played as a shooting guard and power forward at times during his career. Position: Small Forward, Power Forward, and Shooting Guard
Durant wears a size 18 shoe, which is one of the largest shoe sizes in the NBA.
Durant has been selected to the NBA All-Star team 11 times in his career.
As a member of the U.S. men’s national team, Durant has won 3 gold medals in the Olympics (2012, 2016, and 2020)
As a professional, he has won two NBA championships, an NBA Most Valuable Player Award, two Finals MVP Awards, two NBA All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Awards, four NBA scoring titles, the NBA Rookie of the Year Award, been named to ten All-NBA teams (including six First Teams), and selected 13 times as an NBA All-Star.
As of the 2021-2022 NBA season, Durant’s career scoring average is 27.3 points per game., Kevin Durant has played 15 seasons for the Thunder, Nets, and Warriors. He has averaged 27.3 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 4.3 assists in 978 regular-season games.
Durant has won 2 NBA championships in his career, both with the Golden State Warriors (2017, 2018).
