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Report: Kevin Durant could miss rest of season

ByWill Osgood|
Feb 19, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) brings the ball up the court against the Dallas Mavericks during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 19, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder forward Kevin Durant (35) brings the ball up the court against the Dallas Mavericks during the fourth quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Kevin Durant could miss the rest of the NBA season. 

Kevin Durant is without a doubt one of the best players in the NBA. Coming into this season no one questioned that he was the second best player in basketball behind only the Cleveland Cavaliers’ LeBron James.

But it’s been a rough year for Durant. And that rough year may be continuing, or perhaps better said may be done. Based on a report from OKNews/@TheOklahoman by Darnell Mayberry, Durant is not currently looking like he’s going to return to the Thunder lineup this season.

Or at least anytime soon.

Durant did not practice with the team on Thursday and has been ruled out of Friday’s important matchup versus the Atlanta Hawks. Durant predicted back on March 4 he would definitely return to the court this season.

“I’m looking forward to returning this season. No doubt. I’m not packing it in this season.”

Just last Wednesday, Thunder head coach Scott Brooks declared his superstar would return to action “in a week or two”. But Durant has not progressed as expected.

Brooks said Thursday Durant was experiencing “peaks and valleys” in his recovery. Durant will have missed four weeks if he doesn’t play by Sunday.

That’s four weeks since Durant underwent a second surgery to eliminate the pain he was feeling in his foot. It led to the question of whether Durant perhaps needs a new timeline for his return.

Brooks’ response: “I don’t know that yet. But with all our players’ injuries we’ll always take the best interest of the players and always have a cautious approach.”

Durant missed the early part of the season, returned after approximately 20 games, but was never himself. He then went out again shortly after the All-Star Game.

In his stead, Russell Westbrook has gone on an absolute tear, recording a triple-double seemingly every night he laces up the ‘ole sneakers.

Still the Thunder are in a fierce battle just to make the playoffs in the Western Conference, going back and forth with the New Orleans Pelicans for the eighth and final spot.

The Thunder host the surging Miami Heat on Sunday. If Durant does not play in that matinee contest, the Thunder will have just 12 games left in the regular season. Questions subsist on whether Durant would even be able to contribute at his normal level should he return.

To make matters worse, the Thunder just lost Serge Ibaka for the rest of the regular season due to a knee injury.

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