Kevin Durant is back on an NBA court for the first time in 552 days.
On Sunday, the four-time shooting champion and former Kia NBA MVP suited up for the Brooklyn Nets, whom he joined via sign-and-trade all the way back in July 2019, merely weeks after he tore his Achilles tendon with the Golden State Warriors in Game 5 of the Finals.
The injury forced Durant to sit out the entire 2019-20 season. In addition to his huge salary, it was a price the Nets were more than willing to pay in order to land a player with the sixth highest scoring average of 27.02 points, in NBA history.
Brooklyn’s preseason opening game against the Washington Wizards also saw the return of fellow big man Kyrie Irving, who missed all but 20 games of last season with a variety of injuries including a shoulder impingement that needed surgery. The Nets hoped the tandem could elevate them to serious championship contention.
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Durant wasted very little time getting to work, blowing past a closeout at the 3-point line to dunk for the match’s initial points.
Durant said, “It felt great to be back in the routine and be back on the floor and feel like a player again.” “It felt great. Everybody’s texting and calling and asking how I’m feeling. I can’t wait until that’s over with so I can get back in the swing of things and just feel like one of the guys again,” he added.
Head coach Steve Nash, also making his preseason debut with the Nets, said, “It’s another thing to come back and look as explosive and mobile and skillful as he has after a long layoff. I’m incredibly proud of him.”
