Should you start Kevin Durant for your fantasy basketball team?

Kevin Durant has now been upgraded from “out” to “questionable” for Wednesday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies. Should you start him for your fantasy basketball team?

Should you start Oklahoma City Thunder star Kevin Durant for your fantasy basketball team on Wednesday night? At the moment, it’s a close call. However, you certainly have far better reason to now, as he’s been upgraded from “out” against the Memphis Grizzlies to “questionable.”

After stumbling to the floor to sprain a toe, Durant missed the Thunder’s last game against the Sacramento Kings, one that they lost 116-104. It’s the kind of contest they would never normally lose, but as DeMarcus Cousins showed up with 33 points and 19 rebounds while Russell Westbrook shot a mere 6-of-23 from the floor, the Kings capitalized on a less efficient, Durant-less Thunder squad.

There is a chance of that changing on Wednesday night, though. Royce Young of ESPN has reported that his status has been upgraded since Tuesday, and that he participated in most of their latest shoot around as well.

Without Durant, OKC still have a better chance of defeating the Grizzlies than they might have in years past. They are far from being the formidable grit-and-grind team that they have been, and with a 19-17 record and a 15th place ranking in defensive efficiency, it’s hard to disagree with that. So, bearing that in mind, Thunder head coach Billy Donovan may trust that Westbrook will heat up, Serge Ibaka will have another big game and the bench (who have been unreliable a lot of this season) steps up.

On the other hand, now that Durant is a game-time call, it could be down to him to persuade his coach to let him play. He knows the value of waiting to be healthy before rushing back, but after seeing his team lose a game against such an inferior opponent, he may be more willing to jump back in, even if it’s on reduced minutes.

It’s still a close call on whether you should start him, yet Kevin Durant isn’t someone who will be out longer than necessary and he knows how hotly contested and physical games against the Grizzlies are for OKC. With the rivalry-like games they’ve had before, he may want to get in on the action. That is, if he isn’t too worried that the physicality of their frontcourt could bother his weakened foot.

Even though it would be wiser for the Thunder to rest him, you’ve at least got a far higher chance of him appearing for your fantasy team than you did a few hours ago.