Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant has done some incredible things since he returned from an Achilles tendon tear.

Durant, who is 35 years old, last season looked like arguably the best player in the world when he was healthy. Durant averaged 29.7 points per game before he was traded to the Suns, and even though he did not qualify for league leaders in statistics, the “Slim Reaper” became the first player in NBA history to shoot 55 percent from the field, 40 percent from the 3-point line and 90 percent from the free-throw line.

Durant is now part of a Suns team that has an incredibly high ceiling with Devin Booker, who is considered a top-10 player in the NBA, and Bradley Beal. Durant spoke about his excitement to begin the season Tuesday against the Golden State Warriors, who he played for from 2016 to 2019.

“I'm excited to play in front of those fans,” Durant said. “Some incredible moments there.”

Durant is on a team that is expected to compete for a championship. Last season, he was traded to Phoenix in February and had eight games before the team began a playoff run in which it was the betting favorite to advance from the Western Conference to the NBA Finals.

The Suns did not do so but Durant said the team has put together “great days” in the time since he was traded.

“Continuity is an important part of basketball,” Durant told ClutchPoints. “You seen it last year with the Denver Nuggets (who beat the Suns in six games and won the NBA Finals). They had the most continuity, I think, in the playoffs.

“It's just about building every day, and I'm looking forward to doing that.”

Durant's mastery is something that has been apparent to coach Frank Vogel, who three times since 2011 has led teams he has coached to a top defensive rating.

“His IQ, when you’re talking about gameplans and coverages and having ideas on certain things but also the layers of what we’re trying to do defensively and why we’re trying to do it,” Vogel said, “his appreciation for the nuances of our defense has been great. And his effort has been off the charts both in practice and in preseason games.“

Durant in the Suns' final preseason game against the Los Angeles Lakers Monday missed his first six shots but made his last eight.

Durant's health is something that could be a concern. He has not played more than 55 games in the regular season since he suffered his torn right Achilles in the 2019 NBA Finals, though he ranked No. 1 in the playoffs last season in minutes per game (42.7) and made a run to the Eastern Conference semifinals with the Brooklyn Nets in 2021.

Durant said he is not focused on rest and he has not had conversations with coaches about managing an 82-game season.

“You try to prevent me from being injured or being out there, I honestly don’t know what good that does,” Durant said. “Just let me play.

“If we do what we need to do on the floor every night, then we don't have to play 45 minutes a night when you got a deep team like this. We just got to be ready to play, and whatever happens, happens. I just got to live with it.”

Durant will play against the Warriors Tuesday but he could be without Booker (sore left big toe) and Beal (back tightness). They were listed as questionable by the team Monday afternoon.