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Kevin Durant cleared for Thunder training camp

By John Buhler

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 /
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According to Oklahoma City Thunder GM Sam Presti, SF Kevin Durant has been fully cleared for training camp.

Kevin Durant is healthy and back as a full participant in Oklahoma City Thunder training camp. The 2013-14 NBA MVP only managed to play in 27 games last year for OKC due to a myriad of foot injuries.

Getting a healthy Kevin Durant back bodes well for new Thunder HC Billy Donovan to get Oklahoma City back into the Western Conference Playoffs in 2016, after finishing 9th in the West in 2014-15. Durant entered 2014-15 17 games into the season due to a Jones fracture in his right foot.

That foot never was fully healthy for KD as he played his last game for the Thunder in 2014-15 on February 22nd. The Oklahoma City front office opted to shut him down for the year on March 27th.

Even in limited action, Kevin Durant still averaged 25.4 PPG, 6.6 RPG, and 4.1 APG, earning his sixth consecutive trip to the NBA All-Star Game. However, in his extended absence PG Russell Westbrook had to do nearly everything for the Thunder on offense. It takes at least two healthy stars to win in the Western Conference and OKC lacked the depth to contend in Durant’s injury-riddled 2014-15 NBA Campaign.

Assuming the Thunder enter 2015-16 with a full bill of health and an open mind to play for a new head coach in Billy Donovan, OKC should stand as the favorites to win the Northwest Division and contend for a trip to the 2016 Western Conference Finals. The return of arguably the best player in the West should give the Oklahoma City Thunder a much-needed boost as they aspire to contend for an NBA Championship here in 2015-16.

Even with Durant cleared to fully participate in training camp, expect the Thunder front office to proceed with caution of their superstar as he enters the final year of his OKC contract. It serves both parties to have KD at full strength for when the regular season begins in a few weeks.

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