Kevin Durant Likely out of the Game for the Remainder of the Season Because of Foot Injury
Kevin Durant, 26, the league's reigning MVP won't likely return this season because of his lingering foot injury. Oklahoma City Thunders general manager Sam Presti on Friday told reporters, "Essentially, that's the direction [shutting Durant down for the remainder of the season] that we're taking right now, in terms of removing him from all basketball-related activities."
Durant fractured his right foot back in October last year. Despite the injury, he continued to lead his team in winning their assigned games. On February 22, Durant underwent a minor procedure to help reduce pain and discomfort in the surgically repaired right foot. On March 20, Presti made his announcement that Durant was unlikely to return again in the 2014-15 season. Said the general manager: "He's not making the progress that we had hoped and anticipated him making. 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."
Durant is averaging 25.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists a game, but this season, he has played in just 27 of the Thunder's 68 games because of new as well as recurring injuries. He last played February 19 against Memphis, but three days later he had to be subjected to another surgical procedure to replace a screw that was causing discomfort in his injured right foot.
Durant is the latest Thunders player to be confined to sick bay this season. Serge Ibaka, a forward who is the team's best defensive player, may also miss the rest of the season following the arthroscopic procedure done on his right knee earlier this week. Russel Westbrook, who plays guard already missed 14 games this season because of a broken bone in his left hand. Enes Kanter, who was expected to take over Ibaka's place while he recovers, also recently sprained his left ankle.