Kevin Durant’s 2022-23 Season

Kevin Durant’s 2022-23 Season

Kevin Durant’s 2022-23 Season

Kevin Durant entered the 2022-23 season as one of the most scrutinized stars in the NBA, having spent the previous summer requesting a trade away from the Brooklyn Nets before ultimately staying put. What followed was a season split between two teams, two coaching changes, a serious knee injury, and a trade deadline blockbuster that reshaped the Western Conference. Through all the turbulence, Durant’s individual play remained remarkably consistent, and his Kevin Durant 2022-23 season ended with him leading a new contender deep into the playoffs.

A Season Defined By Change

Brooklyn opened training camp with lingering uncertainty. Kyrie Irving’s trade request from the previous offseason had been withdrawn, Ben Simmons was set to make his Nets debut after sitting out all of 2021-22 with a back injury, and Durant himself had spent the summer weighing his future before agreeing to return. Expectations remained sky-high given the roster’s talent, but early results did not match the hype, and the fragile chemistry behind the Durant-Irving partnership began showing cracks almost immediately.

Turmoil and Triumph in Brooklyn

Efficient Scoring Before the Trade Deadline

Whatever chaos surrounded the franchise, Durant’s on-court production never wavered. Across 39 games with the Nets before the trade deadline, he averaged 29.7 points per game while shooting an outstanding 55.9 percent from the field, mixing his trademark pull-up jumper with efficient work in the post and at the rim. His shooting that season was historic; Durant became the first player in NBA history to finish a season shooting at least 55 percent from the field, 40 percent from three, and 90 percent from the free-throw line while appearing in more than half his team’s games.

A Roster in Disarray

Off the court told a different story. Head coach Steve Nash was fired on November 1 after a 2-5 start, with assistant Jacque Vaughn elevated to the role. Irving’s midseason suspension over a controversial social media post added further disruption, and by early February he had requested a trade of his own, sending him to the Dallas Mavericks just days before Durant’s situation came to a head. Durant also missed significant time after suffering a right MCL sprain against the Miami Heat on January 8, an injury that sidelined him for weeks and complicated the Nets’ plans down the stretch.

A Blockbuster Move to Phoenix

With Irving already gone and the Nets’ championship window seemingly closing, Brooklyn moved quickly to resolve Durant’s future. On February 9, the Phoenix Suns acquired Durant and forward T.J. Warren in a four-team deal also involving the Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers. Brooklyn’s return was substantial, netting Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, several future first-round picks, and a pick swap. The trade came together just two days after Mat Ishbia officially took control of the Suns as owner, signaling his intent to push all-in on a title immediately. The deal reshaped both conferences, pairing Durant with Devin Booker and Chris Paul on a Phoenix roster already built for a championship run.

A Suns Debut Slowed by Injury

The Long-Awaited Return

Even after the trade was finalized, Durant could not suit up right away. He was still recovering from the MCL sprain suffered in Brooklyn, and the Suns opted to be patient rather than rush their new star back onto the floor. He finally made his Phoenix debut on March 1 against the Charlotte Hornets, scoring 23 points in 27 minutes and showing no signs of rust despite the layoff, an early glimpse of the upgrade Durant represented for a Suns team looking to close the gap on the rest of the West.

A Cruel Twist Before the Home Debut

Just as Durant appeared ready to settle in, misfortune struck again. Ahead of his scheduled home debut on March 8, he slipped on a wet spot on the court during pregame warmups and sprained his left ankle, forcing a late scratch in front of the Phoenix crowd eager to see him. The freak injury cost him additional games, limiting him to just eight regular-season appearances with the Suns and cutting into the time Phoenix had to build cohesion before the playoffs.

Chasing a Championship in the Desert

Overpowering the Clippers

Phoenix finished the regular season 45-37, good for the fourth seed in the Western Conference, and opened the playoffs against the Los Angeles Clippers. With Durant healthy and increasingly comfortable in Phoenix’s system, the Suns dispatched the Clippers in five games. Durant was dominant throughout the series, averaging 28.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 6.2 assists, punctuating the closeout with 31 points in the clinching Game 5 victory.

A Six-Game Battle With Denver

The second round brought a tougher test in the top-seeded Denver Nuggets, led by MVP Nikola Jokic. Durant continued to play at an elite level, averaging 29.5 points across the six-game Western Conference Semifinals series, but Jokic’s dominance proved too much to overcome. Denver closed out the series with a decisive Game 6 win, ending Phoenix’s title hopes and advancing toward the franchise’s eventual championship.

The Legacy of Durant’s 2022-23 Season

Durant’s 2022-23 campaign stands as one of the most unusual in his career, a year in which he produced some of the most efficient scoring of his life while switching teams, conferences, and coaching staffs amid constant injury setbacks. Despite playing in only 47 total regular-season games, he immediately became the focal point of a retooled Suns roster and carried that form into a promising playoff run. The season reinforced Durant’s remarkable consistency; regardless of circumstance, he remained among the most efficient scorers the league had ever seen, setting the stage for what Phoenix hoped would become a lasting championship partnership.