One touching moment of NBA superstar Kevin Durant hugging Mercury star Brittney Griner was caught on cam and it was released and went viral online on Wednesday as she prepares for the 2023 WNBA season.
The official Phoenix Mercury Twitter account captured a heartwarming moment between two of the city's top basketball players as they welcomed one another and shared the floor for a few seconds, bringing a smile to the faces of local fans, per Sports Illustrated.
After being arrested in Russia in February 2022, Brittney Griner was finally allowed to return to the United States in December.
All love between BG x KD 🧡
— Phoenix Mercury (@PhoenixMercury) March 1, 2023
It’s a new dawn in the desert. pic.twitter.com/OOeZqavWQV
The WNBA player was stopped at a Moscow airport for carrying cannabis vape cartridges in her baggage. She had been imprisoned abroad before being repatriated to the United States as part of a prisoner swap between the United States and Russia.
After her detention in Russia, Brittney Griner is readjusting to basketball. Phoenix Mercury President and General Manager Vince Kozar recently spoke about Griner's return to the sport.
Kozar commented that Griner must be carrying "the weight" of the difficult experiences she had in Russia.
"Certainly a lot of people who love her felt that, and the weight that we were carrying around doesn't even compare to that of her family or BG herself," he said, per Clutch Points.
KD's Successful Suns Debut
Meanwhile, on Wednesday night, Kevin Durant made his long-awaited Suns debut against the Hornets in Charlotte. Durant last played for the Brooklyn Nets in early January due to a knee injury, as reported by CBS sports.
The Suns beat the Hornets, 105-91. Kevin Durant scored 23 points, grabbed six boards, dished out two assists, and blocked two shots in 26 minutes of action against the Hornets.
Devin Booker scored a game-high 37 points and added seven dimes and six boards, while DeAndre Ayton added 16 points and 16 boards of his own. Chris Paul scored two points but had a game-high 11 assists.
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