Comparing Durant’s Suns’ Start to Other Post-Trade Debuts

How Durant’s Suns Start Stacked Up Against Other Post-Trade Debuts
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After months of waiting, Wednesday night was a dream come true for numerous Phoenix Suns fans.

The Suns were able to debut their highly anticipated lineup featuring 13-time All-Star Kevin Durant, who was acquired from the Brooklyn Nets in February. Fans had been eagerly awaiting this moment to see their superstar forward in action on the road against Charlotte.

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The sports betting websites in Arizona had set the over/under for Durant’s points in the game at 20.5.

He exceeded expectations and assisted Suns fans in winning money on Arizona sports betting apps by playing a key role in Phoenix’s 105-91 win against the Hornets.

Durant had an impressive performance, scoring 23 points on 10-of-15 shooting in only 27 minutes of play. In addition, he contributed six rebounds and displayed great chemistry with Devin Booker, who scored 37 points, and Chris Paul, who recorded 11 assists for the dynamic duo.

Yengols.com, the top destination for NBA betting insights in Arizona, aimed to offer insights on Durant’s debut with the Suns in comparison to other elite players who were traded during their prime years.

We analyzed and compared the Suns start of the 15-year veteran by utilizing ESPN’s trade database.

Prominent NBA Player Makes Debut Following Trades

  • James Harden had a stellar performance in the 133-102 victory against Minnesota, scoring 27 points, dishing out 12 assists, and grabbing 8 rebounds for the Philadelphia 76ers. He shot an impressive 57.1% from the field (8-14) and a scorching 71.4% from beyond the arc (5-7) in 2022.
  • James Harden of the Brooklyn Nets recorded a triple-double with 32 points, 14 assists, and 12 rebounds in a 122-115 win against Orlando in 2021. He shot 44.4% from the field (8-18) and 30% from beyond the arc (3-10).
  • Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers scored 25 points, grabbed 9 rebounds, and dished out 5 assists in a 112-102 loss to the L.A. Clippers. He shot 8-21 from the field, making 38.1% of his shots.
  • Paul George of the L.A. Clippers scored 27 points, had 5 assists, 2 rebounds, shot 9-23 from the field (39.1%), and 4-12 from beyond the arc (33.3%) in a 108-100 loss to Golden State in 2019.
  • During a game in 2019, Kawhi Leonard of the Toronto Raptors secured a 112-102 victory against the L.A. Lakers. He scored 30 points, acquired 6 rebounds, and provided 5 assists. Leonard shot 10-19 from the field (52.6%) and 1-5 from three-point range (20%).
  • During a 114-108 win against Milwaukee in 2011, Carmelo Anthony of the New York Knicks recorded 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 1 assist. He shot 40% from the field (10-25) and 50% from beyond the arc (1-2).
  • Chris Paul of the L.A. Clippers had a strong performance in a 95-91 win against Milwaukee in 2011, scoring 17 points, dishing out 16 assists, and grabbing 4 rebounds. He shot 6-11 from the field (54.5%) and 1-2 from beyond the arc (50%).
  • In a game against Oklahoma City in 2010, Tracy McGrady of the New York Knicks scored 26 points, had 5 assists, 4 rebounds, and shot 10-17 (58.8%) from the field, including 1-3 (33.3%) from beyond the arc in a close 121-118 overtime loss.
  • During the 2006 season, Allen Iverson of the Denver Nuggets had an impressive performance against Sacramento, scoring 22 points, providing 10 assists, securing 2 rebounds, shooting 60% from the field (9-15), and 66.7% from three-point range (2-3) in a 101-96 defeat.
  • Charles Barkley had an outstanding performance in the Phoenix Suns’ 111-105 win against the L.A. Clippers in 1992, finishing with 37 points, 21 rebounds, and 8 assists on 11-16 shooting (68.8%).

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What is Durant’s Position in the Suns Rotation?

Durant’s debut for the Suns in Charlotte on Wednesday, where he scored 23 points, was impressive, but it fell short of matching the first game of franchise legend Charles Barkley in 1993.

Nevertheless, oddsmakers at BetMGM Sportsbook Arizona appear to believe that Durant is the missing piece for the Suns. This is evident in their decision to raise Phoenix’s odds to +450 to win the NBA Championship, positioning them as second favorites in the league behind Boston (+300).

In his debut game for the Suns, Barkley put on a stellar performance against the L.A. Clippers, scoring 37 points and securing 21 rebounds in a 111-105 victory.

Durant’s debut game with the Suns was a pivotal success, propelling them to a 34-29 season record. The win solidified their position in fourth place in the Western Conference, trailing the Kings by 3.5 games and leading the Warriors by 1.5 games.

On March 8, Durant will have the chance to showcase his skills to Suns fans when he plays his first home game against his former team, Oklahoma City. This follows Phoenix’s upcoming road games against Chicago and Dallas on Friday and Sunday.

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Author

Peterson Christopher

For more than seven years, Peterson Christopher has been reporting on sports and sports betting in Arizona. He has worked for ArizonaSports.com, the Tucson Weekly, and the Green Valley News, and is currently the lead writer at yengols.com.

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