Kevin Durant will stop basketball related activities and continue to be evaluated for complications with a preseason foot fracture, putting in jeopardy his return to the Thunder this season.
Kevin Durant’s season in jeopardy after setback with foot injury
Durant has missed most of the year dealing with complications from a preseason foot fracture
In a Friday press conference, Thunder general manager Sam Presti didn’t give a clear timetable but said shutting Durant down for the season was the “direction [they’re] headed right now.”
“Unless he’s able to be back on the floor without soreness, he won’t be back on the floor,” Presti said.
The Thunder star has been out since Feb. 19 following a procedure to reduce soreness from a screw inserted during his first foot surgery to fix a Jones fracture before the season. A quick return from foot injuries often puts athletes at a higher risk of reinjury, and Durant has been in and out of the lineup this season, playing just 27 games.
The Thunder are currently a half-game up on the New Orleans Pelicans for the final spot in the Western Conference playoffs. Making things tougher, they recently lost Serge Ibaka for four to six weeks after having surgery on his right knee.
Russell Westbrook has kept the Thunder alive thanks to a historically-good stretch of play, but the team clearly needs Durant healthy to reach their full potential. Durant has played fantastic when he has been in the lineup, averaging 25.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists this season. Without him, it's possible the Pelicans (one game back) or even the Suns (two and half games back) could pass Oklahoma City for the No. 8 seed in the West.
See More:
