Kevin Durant fully cleared for training camp

USATSI

When training camp opens in OKC next week, Kevin Durant will be officially back. Sam Presti said Wednesday that Durant has been fully cleared for all basketball activities and will participate completely in training camp.

“He’s been playing without restriction, 5-on-5 and competing as normal,” Presti said. “With that said, as any of our players coming off injury, we’re going to be watching and managing practice, recovery time, we’re going to be watching. But as far as limitations, he doesn’t have any.”

Durant, who underwent three surgeries on his right foot to repair a Jones fracture last season, was partially cleared in August and participated in non-contact drills at a USA Basketball mini-camp. But with the Thunder opening training camp next week, he’s said to be entirely recovered from the foot injury that held him to only 27 games last season.

“He feels great. Looks great. It’s great to have him back on the floor,” Presti said. “Happy for him because he’s been so committed and so disciplined to that process of getting back on the floor.”

Presti said with the team monitoring rest and recovery that it’s likely Durant won’t appear in all the Thunder’s preseason games, but that is standard for all their players and normal operating procedure for the preseason.

“We have to see how he feels during the beginning of camp and then we’ll map out a plan for the year as we do with all our players, not just Kevin,” Presti said.

As for a minute reduction for Durant, Presti said that’s something the coaching and medical staffs will discuss throughout the season.

“I think that’s something that Billy and Kevin and our medical and performance team will work on,” Presti said. “Average minutes? I don’t know. I think that’s the most important thing. Are there going to be games where he plays more than the average? Probably. But I think you have to factor in it’s 82 games and where you want to be at a certain point and where the schedule is and where opportunities might be to take some time. But he’s going to play a lot of minutes because he can, but we’re going to be really diligent with how those minutes will be distributed.”