Kevin Durant has widely been expected to sit out the entire 2019-20 season as he recovers from a torn Achilles, but suddenly there are rumblings that he may not miss his first year with the Brooklyn Nets.
We can thank Brian Lewis of the New York Post for that. On Monday, Lewis tweeted that there is a “growing sentiment” around the NBA that Durant could play at some point this upcoming season.
There is a growing sentiment around many in the #NBA that Kevin Durant could be back this season. Remains to be seen. #Nets
— Brian Lewis (@NYPost_Lewis) September 22, 2019
That seems highly unlikely, and would it really be a wise decision? Durant knows all too well about the risks of returning from an injury too early, as he was battling a right calf strain before he returned to play for the Golden State Warriors in Game 5 of the NBA Finals and ruptured his right Achilles just minutes after taking the court. There’s still some disagreement over whether the injuries were related, but it’s not worth taking a similar risk again.
Durant should also look at DeMarcus Cousins, who has suffered numerous significant injuries over the past two years. Again, there is debate over whether or not they are all related, but Cousins tore his Achilles with the New Orleans Pelicans halfway through the 2017-18 season and returned to play for Golden State in January of the following season. Cousins then suffered a torn quad muscle during the playoffs, and he has since torn his ACL.
Even if Durant has made it clear he doesn’t blame the Warriors for what happened to him, no one should have a better understanding of how important it is to be 100 percent healthy before returning. The Nets knew he probably would not play for a year when they signed him, and they should stick to that plan. Because Durant is so clearly bothered by the way fans treat him, he may get the urge to fight his way back. The only thing he should fight is that urge.
