On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
PHOENIX — After Phoenix Suns star Kevin Durant was helped off the court with an ankle injury during the third quarter against the Houston Rockets on Sunday night, Suns fans took to social media to voice their worries and heartbreak.
Coach Mike Budenholzer announced that Durant needs an MRI and would not be traveling with the team for their next three-game set.
Kevin Durant (ankle) to undergo MRI on Monday.
He won’t travel with Suns to start 3-game road trip, per coach Budenholzer.
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) March 31, 2025
Many ask if this will be the last time we see Durant as a Sun, granted that ankle injuries may take weeks to heal.
Kevin Durant has seemed to suffer an inversion ankle sprain. Timeline of healing is dependent on severity
Grade I: 1-2 weeks
Grade II: 4-6 weeks (out for season)Could this be the LAST time we see KD in a Suns uniform? pic.twitter.com/QOtyZffj04
— Dr. Evan Jeffries, DPT (@GameInjuryDoc) March 31, 2025
Other fans are skeptical of Durant’s future and legacy, noting that he has not lived up to expectations.
Kevin Durant has won 2 playoff **series’** in the half decade since leaving Golden State..He’s also been swept twice by teams that **didn’t** win the chip..And he’s about to miss the play-in.
I know, I know..this summer he’s going to make another team the paper champs..But at…
— Hub (@KenHeLive) March 31, 2025
Kevin Durant had it absolutely made in OKC but he threw it all away for a couple worthless rings and his legacy has never recovered. He will be remembered as an all-time great, but he will not be remembered fondly.
— Barry (@BarryOnHere) March 31, 2025
Fans are also fed up with lackluster performances from everyone on the team.
What do Phoenix Suns practices look like?
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) March 31, 2025
The future isn’t clear for Durant or the Suns. Time is running out for the club to make one final postseason push, and the Phoenix fanbase seems wary of what could transpire in the next few games. The Suns will face the Milwaukee Bucks, New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics, the reigning World Champions. Their next game will be on April 1.
More must-reads:
- Clippers' strong finish shows they clearly won James Harden trade
- Nuggets team president makes blunt admission about Michael Malone firing
- The 'NBA's points-per-game leaders from 2015-16' quiz
Breaking News
TODAY'S BEST
Trail Blazers make a big move with future of HC Chauncey Billups
The Portland Trail Blazers know head coach Chauncey Billups may be a hot commodity, so they're not letting another team poach him. On Sunday, NBA insider Chris Haynes tweeted the Trail Blazers and Billups have agreed to a contract extension that will keep him in Portland through the 2027-28 season. Portland has missed the playoffs for a fourth straight season, but it may be heading in the right direction under the fourth-year head coach. After Portland dealt guard Damian Lillard to the Milwaukee Bucks in September 2023, the Trail Blazers tanked, going 21-61. Despite the loss of the star guard, they've improved this season. The Trail Blazers were 35-46, entering the regular season's final day on Sunday. Per Jasmyn Wimbish of CBS Sports, Portland has had the fourth-best defense in the league since the All-Star break. Unsurprisingly, Portland's progress under Billups has piqued the interest of other teams. According to NBA insiders Marc Stein and Jake Fischer, he was expected to emerge as a candidate for the Denver Nuggets and Phoenix Suns. Phoenix may fire head coach Mike Budenholzer after being eliminated from playoff contention. The Nuggets' vacancy may be more attractive to Billups, a Denver native who played for the team from 1998-2000 and 2008-11. More importantly, the team won a championship during the 2022-23 season and features center Nikola Jokic, a three-time MVP. Solidifying their future with Billups could help the Trail Blazers ensure that their rebuild continues to go smoothly. Guards Anfernee Simons and Shaedon Sharpe have looked like a promising duo this season. Sharpe averaged a career-high 18.5 points per game in his first 72 games this season, while Simons logged 19.3 through his first 70. If Sharpe and Simons continue to grow and turn Portland into a playoff team, retaining Billups would look like an even smarter move.
Cleveland Browns' Chances of Drafting Shedeur Sanders Take Major Hit
A little over a week out from the NFL Draft it's looking extremely unlikely that the Cleveland Browns will be using the second overall pick on Colorado star quarterback Shedeur Sanders. Things have seemingly been trending in that direction for several weeks already, now the conversation around Sanders revolves around just how far he'll fall if the Browns do pass on him. Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer dropped some crucial details on where Sanders fits into the NFL Draft picture on Monday, revealing that the Browns aren't the only team near the top of the draft that is expected to pass on Sanders. "I don’t think Sanders is going in the top three," wrote Breer. "And at this point, it feels like it’d be surprising if the Las Vegas Raiders, New York Jets or Saints took him in the top 10." That's right, Breer's intel suggests that the QB-needy Browns and New York Giants, who draft one spot later, won't be pulling the trigger on Sanders. In fact, he doesn't even see him being taken in the top 10. At that point, all bets are off as to where Sanders gets taken, and according to Breer there's only one way he'd go in the first round at all. "I’ve had more than one person say to me that if Sanders goes in the first round, it’ll be because an owner got involved," Breer continued. "I’m having a really hard time finding coaches or scouts who believe Sanders is a first-round talent. This, by the way, is separate from any issue anyone has with his personality. Those questions exist, but lots of teams have made exceptions in that department in the past to take on guys with special talents." Any Browns fan wishing for Sanders may be disappointed to hear he's likely not the pick at No. 2 overall. That said, if he falls, there's a chance Cleveland could potentially snag him by trading back up into the first round or waiting until they're on the clock with Pick No. 33.
Report hints Vikings could still 'address' Aaron Rodgers possibility amid recovery of J.J. McCarthy
A report from earlier in April said that the Minnesota Vikings potentially signing Aaron Rodgers for the 2025 season was "all but dead" because of how 2024 first-round draft choice J.J. McCarthy has looked coming off the full meniscus repair that sidelined him for his entire rookie campaign. For a lengthy piece published on Monday that detailed why Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell is confident that McCarthy will be ready to face live defenses this coming September, NFL insider Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated hinted that the Vikings won't slam the door shut on possibly reaching out to Rodgers if he remains unsigned as McCarthy prepares for mandatory minicamp workouts scheduled to take place in June. "The Vikings found themselves emboldened to give McCarthy the runway to seize the job, the staff the opportunity to build the offense for him, and see how that looked at the end of the spring," Breer wrote. Understandably, such a line could lead one to ask how Minnesota would react if McCarthy doesn't impress his coaches as did 2024 Week 1 starter Sam Darnold last spring and summer. "The Vikings will address that later on," Breer said. "For now, though, they see all the pieces, in McCarthy himself and what’s around him. And we’ll know soon enough whether they come together as planned." The "for now" line is doing some heavy lifting considering there's no indication Rodgers is in any hurry to sign with a Pittsburgh Steelers team that is now being linked with Kirk Cousins of the Atlanta Falcons. Numerous reports since March have suggested Rodgers would rather join the Vikings than the Steelers, and some reporters believe he ultimately could choose the New Orleans Saints over Pittsburgh if it's true that New Orleans starter Derek Carr could miss some or all of the 2025 season because of a shoulder injury. "They need to win the bet they’ve made on McCarthy," Breer added about a Vikings side that entered Week 18 of the 2024 campaign at 14-2. "The rest of the guys on the team need that, too." One can't help but wonder if at least a few of the most important guys and biggest stars in the Minnesota locker room will want Rodgers and not McCarthy atop the depth chart by the time training camp practices get underway this summer.
Red Sox Predicted to Cut Ties With Fan-Favorite Amid Roman Anthony Situation
The Boston Red Sox find themselves in a strange position, but it might not be the worst one. With the way Wilyer Abreu has been swinging the bat, the Red Sox have to feel confident in the 25-year-old moving forward. He was in trade rumors all offseason, but it'd be unfair to suggest that he should be dealt anytime soon. He's hitting .364 with three home runs and has been a force in the middle of the Red Sox lineup. While that's a positive, this could cause an issue for Ceddanne Rafaela, another young outfielder on the Red Sox roster. The 24-year-old is an elite defensive outfielder and can play multiple positions, but he's hitting just .190 and has struggled offensively for much of his career. Just Baseball believes there's a scenario where he could be traded due to Roman Anthony also coming up, throwing another wrench into the mix. “Last season, he posted 12 defensive runs saved, which ranked fifth among center fielders with at least 600 innings. Mind you that Rafaela accumulated those numbers in only 630 innings. Most of the players in the top 10 played at least 800 innings in center. “While the glove is giving him more runway, it could be short lived. Just Baseball’s No. 1 prospect, Roman Anthony, is waiting in Triple-A for his big league opportunity. Anthony is off to a solid start to the year and could force the Red Sox’s hand soon. He currently has a 138 wRC+ with two home run,” Just Baseball wrote. It's only a matter of time before Anthony gets an opportunity to play at the big league level. He's proved throughout his minor league career that he's more than deserving of a chance. Despite starting the season off on a slow foot, currently hitting .177, he's a career .280 hitter in the minors with 145 home runs in 957 at-bats. Everything suggests that he'll be a big help to the Red Sox roster in the near future, which could be as early as 2025.
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
