Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant is not expected to play at all during the 2019-20 season, general manager Sean Marks told reporters during Tuesday's press conference, according to SNY's Ian Begley.
Durant is attacking his rehab aggressively and doing well in his recovery. Marks said that as a competitor, Durant would obviously want to play this season, but the Nets are taking a long-term approach with their coveted star, who will have a significant say in when he decides to return.
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Contrary to earlier reports, the Nets won't be pushing for Durant to return sooner than he's expected to, as an Achilles injury could take a full year to recover from. Durant suffered the injury during Game 5 of the NBA Finals as a member of the Golden State Warriors, going under the knife only days later and starting the timeline of his recovery.
The Nets are largely expected to play under Kyrie Irving's lead for the entirety of the season, as well as the postseason, with Durant aiming for a return during the 2020-21 season instead.
Durant will be anxious to play, but will be most serviceable to the Nets if he can get a full offseason under his legs and take on the next season-opener as close to full strength. The timeline of 12 months would put him right back to the end of the postseason, allowing him to miss the season altogether and have an extra offseason to hone his game before joining Irving and the rest of his new teammates.
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