The Brooklyn Nets believe they will have to wait a year before Kevin Durant plays for them.
Nets general manager Sean Marks reported Tuesday that the team is planning this season without the injured star. However, he added that Durant himself will influence the decision on when he will be fit to play.
“With Kevin, I think what we’re going to say is that expectations are that he will be out for the entire year,” Marks said.
Durant is recovering from surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon. The forward was injured while playing with the Warriors in the NBA final series. In July he left Golden State to sign with Brooklyn.
Around that time, the Nets left open the possibility that Durant could play for the season. It is still possible, but Marks is not counting on it.
“I was excited to see, I think everyone, how he has approached this rehab, which has been great, very refreshing and energizing for the whole group,” Marks said. But at the end of the day, this is a long-term plan. This was never about this upcoming season. This is about having an elite athlete return to elite physical form on the court, whatever it takes. “
Durant returned after sustaining a calf muscle injury during the postseason for Game 5 of the NBA Finals. His return lasted only 12 minutes before leaving with a more serious injury.
Marks said Durant has given no indication that he plans to take it easy.
“I think they are looking at one of the biggest competitors, so I think I would be remiss if I said no, that he probably doesn’t want to play,” Marks said. “I think it is obvious that he wants to play, but I think there is more at stake.”
Meanwhile, Marks believes that Durant will try to accompany his new team, although he cannot predict how often. He’s not even sure yet whether Durant will accompany the Nets to China next month for their exhibition games against the Los Angeles Lakers.
Durant is expected to speak on Friday, when the Nets hold their press day.
Durant signed with Brooklyn alongside Kyrie Irving, another star player who was injured Tuesday by an elbow in a practice game. Marks does not believe the injury is serious, although Irving attended an evaluation accompanied by coach Kenny Atkinson. AP