The basketball world has long been anticipating Kevin Durant's return from injury and on Wednesday night, we all got our wish. After nearly seven weeks on the shelf nursing an MCL sprain, KD finally returned to action for the Nets as they faced off against the Miami Heat.

Even Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James had to react to the news and clearly, The King was also excited to see Durant back on the basketball court:

LeBron may be one of the greatest players this game has ever seen, but he too knows how to appreciate greatness when he sees it. Clearly, James considers KD as one of the best he's had the privilege to play against for many years.

Durant's return, however, was spoiled by the Heat. Despite KD's 31-point performance, it was Miami who was able to escape with a victory in Brooklyn, 113-107. The shorthanded Heat were without Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry, to name a few, but they were still able to hold out Durant and Co.

KD gets a couple of nights off before the Nets return to action. They are slated to take on the red-hot Celtics on Sunday in Boston. That should be another good one.

For his part, however, LeBron is in a much more desperate situation as compared to Durant. The Lakers suffered another blowout loss on Thursday against their bitter cross-town rivals in the LA Clippers, 132-111. This was thanks in large part to a disheartening 18-point third quarter by a Lakers side that seems like they're all but ready to give up on the season.

Before the season started, many considered the Nets and the Lakers as a potential Finals matchup this year. So much has happened since then and at this point, I guess it's already safe to say that this isn't going to happen. And it's no fault of KD's. Brooklyn is still seen as one of the favorites to come out of the East right now. The same cannot be said of the Lakers. Based on how they've been playing of late, they'd be lucky to even get in the playoffs.