Did NBA Just Reveal When Kevin Durant is Expected to Return?

The NBA moved back the time of next Friday's Phoenix Suns-Oklahoma City Thunder game... and we wonder why.

It's time to adjust those tin foil hats. 

The highly anticipated return to action for new Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant reached an all-time high in terms of buzz when he was introduced at the Footprint Center yesterday. 

"You see the growth in this team. When Monty took over, when James came here, I see the culture start to change, the way they played on the floor. The energy they played with started to change, and I always loved playing here in Phoenix," said Durant.

"I knew this would be a great place to play and a great place to continue to get better as a player. You got somebody like Devin [Booker] and Chris Paul and Deandre Ayton, guys that work. And I wanted to be part of that, so I'm excited I'm here."

Durant suffered a MCL sprain in early January and was ruled out until after the All-Star break. He was spotted going through some routine shooting drills at practice, and will have a week until Phoenix's next game when the Oklahoma City Thunder come to town next Friday. 

Late last night, the Suns sent out the following press release:

"PHOENIX – The NBA announced tonight that the start time for the game on Friday, Feb. 24 between the Phoenix Suns and Oklahoma City Thunder at Footprint Center has been moved to 8:00 p.m. MT. The game will now be televised on ESPN in addition to Bally Sports Arizona."

Hmm. 

The Thunder and Suns are fairly close in record, but the league certainly believes Durant may indeed make his return next Friday night. 

We're not the only ones who subscribe to this theory, either. 

"For ESPN, booting the still frisky but starless Nets and the freefalling Bulls off of the national TV schedule for KD’s potential debut on his new squad isn’t a hard choice," said Dime Magazine. "Still, it’s not often a game with the Thunder, despite being quite competitive this year, gets picked for the national spotlight."

Durant seems to be getting close to his first game in a Suns uniform. Whether that will come next Friday remains to be seen.