While Kevin Durant has been seen traveling with the team, doing some light 5-0 drills and taking jumpers during shootaround, the 2014 MVP isn't as close to his return as some might have thought.
Head coach Steve Kerr expanded on his comments from early in the week, saying that his status would be updated through the middle of next week.
“Well, I mean, (re-integrating Durant) is something we’ll consult the training staff on,” Kerr told the San Jose Mercury News’ Anthony Slater. “I imagine we’ll ease him back by playing him shorter minutes to start so he can build up his rhythm and his conditioning, but that obviously has a domino effect on the entire rotation. When we get to that point, we’ll figure it out. It’s not something I’m giving a lot of thought to right now because he’s still at least a couple weeks away.”
Durant has yet to play since his injury on Feb. 28 in the first minute of the Golden State Warriors‘ game against the Washington Wizards, and while an official update is soon to come, it's fair to say his coach is keeping a close eye on his overall progress. Kerr's timeline would mean Durant would be able to return for the last two games of the season against the Utah Jazz and the Los Angeles Lakers.
After losing the first five of seven games without Durant, the Warriors have rebounded to win six straight and will need his services as they approach the toughest part of their regular season. Starting on Sunday, Golden State will face Memphis at home, then Houston and San Antonio on the road, only to come back home and face the Rockets and Wizards, all in a span of eight days.
Kevin Durant is averaging 25.3 points per game on 53.7 percent shooting from the floor, along with 4.8 assists, 1.1 steals, and career-highs of 8.2 rebounds and 1.6 blocks during his first season in a Warriors' uniform.
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