The latest updates on Kevin Durant’s ankle and his availability moving forward do more than just hinder the Phoenix Suns’ ability to win games. They might also cost him a shot at All-NBA recognition.
Durant has averaged 26.2 points, 6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game this season. While the Suns have struggled, sitting below .500, their shortcomings aren’t due to his efforts. He has carried his share of the load, and the team’s 2–11 record without him speaks volumes about his impact.
In his 17-year career, Durant has been named to 11 All-NBA teams—six times on the first team and five on the second, most recently last season with Phoenix. Despite the Suns’ overall underperformance, his individual excellence has kept him in the conversation for another All-NBA nod. Whether his injury derails that remains to be seen.
But this latest injury may cost him that opportunity. Durant has appeared in 62 games this season, falling just short of the 65-game minimum required for All-NBA eligibility.
As Bobby Marks points out, a player who suffers an injury at this stage of the season can still qualify, but only if they’ve played in at least 85% of their team’s regular-season games before the injury. Durant? He’s at 82.7%. Just shy of the threshold, and unless the league makes an exception, that margin could be the difference between another All-NBA nod and missing the cut entirely.
In the scenario Durant misses the remainder of the season:
A player who plays 62 games and misses the remainder of the season is eligible for All-NBA.
However, they must have played in 85% of the team’s regular season games prior to the injury.
Durant has played 82.7% https://t.co/2I79E5Nloq
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) March 31, 2025
So, it’s insult to injury.
I get it. Most fans couldn’t care less about All-NBA selections. Winning is all that matters. Personal accolades don’t change the sting of a losing season. But to players, to legacies, they do matter, whether we choose to acknowledge it or not.
And truthfully, I appreciate when great players get the recognition they’ve earned. Durant has once again played spectacular basketball this season, carrying his weight even as the team has faltered. It’s unfortunate that these new benchmarks exist at all — necessary as they may be — because in the end, they risk penalizing greatness rather than preserving it.
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