Golden State Warriors star Kevin Durant finally returned to the practice floor on Sunday in advance of Game 5 of the NBA Finals, but it appears he got in limited work with his teammates:
If KD got some work in today against the rest of his teammates — it wasn’t much. He was one of the first players back in the locker room and the Warriors weren’t on the floor very long to begin with.
— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) June 9, 2019
KD just walked out of the arena with assistant coach Mike Brown. He had an ice pack on the lower part of his right calf and Achilles. pic.twitter.com/hUk4r1XQSC
— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) June 9, 2019
Durant didn't talk to reporters before or after Sunday's practice. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr acknowledged the possibility of Durant returning for Monday's Game 5, but nothing has been determined yet. Durant and the training staff will have to see how he responds to the practice before giving a more specific update.
Durant has now been out over a month since first straining his right calf in Game 5 of the second-round series against the Houston Rockets. While the initial diagnosis of the injury painted a picture of a minor injury, the Warriors star still hasn't returned to the court, resulting in some reported frustration throughout the organization.
Golden State could really use Durant's services considering the current predicament. The two-time defending champions are down 3-1 against the red-hot Toronto Raptors, and the Warriors' offense has struggled against the Raptors' aggressive defense. Durant's elite scoring would be a huge boon for Golden State.
Of course, there are major questions regarding just how effective Durant may be if he does return in Game 5. While he may try to be a hero, would his body even allow that to happen? Warriors star Stephen Curry is confident KD will be effective if he plays, but there are no guarantees.
However, before even worrying about Kevin Durant's effectiveness, Golden State first needs to find out if he can even play.
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