Kevin Durant out indefinitely
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Turns out Kevin Durant’s absence from practice yesterday was a bad sign.
Sam Presti addressed the media today and said that Durant has been removed from all basketball activities as the team assesses what’s causing persistent soreness in his surgically repaired right foot.
“He’s not making the progress that we had hoped and anticipated him making,” Presti said. “He still has some soreness in his foot, and the protocol that’s in place calls for him to be able to compete on the floor without that at this stage.
“What we’d like to do is to get everybody the necessary information, have Kevin evaluated by the necessary people,” Presti said. “At that point we’ll have a better understand as to what it is that’s creating the lack of progress, the continued soreness.”
Durant has only played in 27 games this season. All games haven’t been missed as a result of the surgery though, with a sprained ankle and sprained left big toe also contributing to 10 missed games.
“The most important thing is to state he’s not going to be playing right now,” Presti said. “When he’s healthy to play and when he’s able to return without that soreness, he’ll be back on the floor. If that takes the rest of the regular season, if that takes the rest of the playoffs, that’s what it’s going to take. As I’ve said before the health and wellness of our players is the most important thing. This is the decision that we’re making because this is the most important thing, his health.”
One quick thought, because I know: I was under the full expectation Durant would be able to return to play this season. I’m certainly surprised. Yesterday’s setback seemed like bad news, because it was, but I had every reason to believe Durant was going to play again. He did too, if you’ll remember. His foot not healing as anticipated is unexpected for everybody — Durant, the team, doctors… everybody. There’s something else that’s a problem and complicating the issue, and that’s why the Thunder aren’t taking any chances here.
More later.
