Injuries Derailed Suns More Than Most in 2023-24

The Phoenix Suns were counting on their star trio being healthy - that hasn't exactly happened.

PHOENIX -- The Phoenix Suns haven't been fortunate when it comes to overall health.

As the 2023-24 regular season begins to draw to a close, Phoenix has only seen roughly a third of their games played with all of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal in action together. 

All three have dealt with various injuries throughout the season - and Bleacher Report believes the injury bug has bitten them worse than most, naming them as one of five teams that have been most devastated in that regard. 

"The Phoenix Suns weren't particularly fortunate on the health front. And if we're going to include the Cleveland Cavaliers, who got 22 total games from their top four stars, we have to give the Suns the same treatment because Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal have shared the court in only 25 games," wrote Grant Hughes. 

"The Suns are 15-10 in those contests and post a plus-8.7 net rating with their top three players on the floor. Take any one of KD, Booker or Beal out of the mix, and the resulting two-man combo fares (expectedly) worse than that plus-8.7 mark. The Beal-Durant (minus-2.6) and Booker-Beal (minus-1.6) duos couldn't even manage break-even net ratings without the third star alongside them.

"Durant has been remarkably durable, topping 55 games for the first time since before he tore his Achilles in 2019 and averaging 37.1 minutes. Booker missed eight of Phoenix's first 10 games, plus another half-dozen since then. He can't miss much more time if he hopes to top the 65-game threshold for All-NBA consideration.

"That still puts him well ahead of Beal, who's faced persistent back, ankle and hamstring issues and missed 29 of the Suns' first 53 games. At his current rate, Beal will be lucky to reach 50 games on the year.

"As a result, the Suns will go down the stretch fighting to stay out of the play-in. They're still extremely dangerous, particularly on offense, when healthy. No one will want to see them in the first round. But it's hard to escape the feeling of lost opportunity, as a different, healthier version of this team seemed likely to win 60-plus games and challenge for the West's top seed."

Other teams mentioned where the Philadelphia 76ers, Cleveland Cavaliers, New York Knicks and Memphis Grizzlies.