Is Kevin Durant playing in NBA All-Star Game? Latest injury update

Kevin Durant was recently traded by the Brooklyn Nets to the Phoenix Suns. Will the two-time NBA Finals MVP play in the All-Star Game?

This season’s NBA trade deadline has been the wildest in recent memory, given the amount of big names moved to new teams. After the Brooklyn Nets fulfilled Kyrie Irving’s trade request and dealt him to the Dallas Mavericks, they spoke with Kevin Durant and he was ultimately moved to the Phoenix Suns. With that, the Western Conference just got that much tougher. But, that did leave some confusion in regards to the NBA All-Star Game.

Ahead of his trade to Phoenix, Durant was named a starter for the NBA All-Star Game, taking place in Salt Lake City, Utah. Some fans may be wondering if they will see Durant play in the All-Star Game on Sunday, Feb. 19.

Is Kevin Durant playing in NBA All-Star Game?

No, Durant won’t be playing in the All-Star Game this year. That was announced well before Durant was even traded to the Suns.

On Feb. 7, Chris Haynes of Bleacher Report and TNT reported that Durant is going to be sidelined due to an MCL sprain in his right knee, suffered back in Brooklyn’s Jan. 8 game against the Miami Heat.

Durant is expected to return after the All-Star break, but it’s not currently known when he will make his official Suns debut. Phoenix’s first game after the break will be on Friday, Feb. 24, when they host the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Prior to his injury, Durant was averaging 29.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.3 assists while shooting 55.9-percent from the field and 37.6-percent from the three-point line.

There you have it, Durant will not be playing in the All-Star Game, as he continues to progress to a return from an MCL sprain suffered back in early January.