There was a lot of excitement around what was supposed to be the start of the new Phoenix Suns “Big Three” of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. TNT’s Reggie Miller was so prepared that he had to be informed on the air that Durant had been ruled out of the Suns’ game against the Suns. Warriors of the Golden State with a lingering ankle injury.
Tuesday’s Xwitter post from The Athletic’s Shams Charania reporting on Durant’s injury could easily be missed. Xwitter metrics show that the post generated less than half the views of a previous day’s post on the site design. Los Angeles Lakers’ In-season tournament banner.
It was much harder not to notice Charania’s message Wednesday afternoon. He reported that Durant was set to face the Suns against the Brooklyn Nets later in the evening. The post included a giant photo of Durant, Beal and Booker in uniform. The post was viewed more than 600,000 times in less than an hour.
Unfortunately, for sports fans, unlike Tuesday night’s game against the Warriors, this one was not scheduled as a nationally televised game. Unless NBATV decides to change its schedule on the fly, most sports fans will have to follow this highly anticipated debut on social media.
Heading into the 2023-24 season, the new-look Suns were considered the Western Conference team with the best chance of defeating the reigning NBA champion. Denver Nuggets. After almost two full months, 23 games, an in-season tournament and three ejections from Draymond Greenit looks like they will finally speak together.
I hope Charania wouldn’t have accompanied his report with a picture if he wasn’t almost completely certain of Durant’s status Wednesday night. That being said, he reported that Durant is expected to “play.” This still leaves room for doubt and with this Suns team, any uncertainty must be taken seriously. After all, Durant twisted his ankle in warmups last season, costing him a few weeks.
There are still a few hours before the announcement. I’m hoping for the best, because the Suns’ dynamic trio’s debut is one of only two compelling matchups on the Wednesday NBA schedule – the other being an in-season tournament single-elimination rematch between the Indiana Pacers And Milwaukee Bucks. Neither is nationally televised, as ESPN airs the 2024 SEC football schedule Wednesday night, along with a new 30 for 30 on Reggie White.
I’m actually interested in the documentary about one of the few Green Bay Packers I’ve always been a fan of, but that can wait until the Suns’ real debut 2023-24. Come on guys, get on the field tonight. Shams’ photo of the three of you makes me wonder.
