Steve Nash, Nets ‘feel really good’ about Kevin Durant’s recovery progress

Brooklyn Nets Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant takes warmups prior to the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Barclays Center.
Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports

Steve Nash wasn’t going to give out a timetable for when they expected Kevin Durant to return, but the Nets coach seemed optimistic about the progress of how Durant’s recovery had been going.

Durant has not played for Brooklyn since he sprained his MCL  on Jan. 15 against the New Orleans Pelicans. The Nets have gone 2-9 since with the NBA superstar sidelined.

“We don’t really get into timetables just in case it gets complicated, but we feel really good about his recovery so far,” Nash said. “I think he’s well on his way. There’s been no setbacks and everything has gone to plan or then some. We feel really positive about the progress he’s making and a return will be a full one, and hopefully not in too long a period.”

While the Nets have never announced a timetable publically, ESPN reported that Brooklyn had been optimistically looking at a 4-6 week recovery time, which could mark his return somewhere after the NBA All-Star break.

Durant spoke to The ETCs podcast recently and also indicated that his recovery had been going well.

“It’s an unfortunate situation to be taken out like that,” Durant said about the injury. “It stung for a couple of days, but now I’m getting better and getting back into the swing of some things. Walking around a little different. Things are looking up, but definitely want to be out there with the guys soon.”

The Nets superstar was injured when Bruce Brown fell into Durant in the second quarter of that game against the Pelicans. Durant could be seen in pain on the court and after trying to walk it out, he was taken to the Nets’ locker room for further evaluation.

Durant went through a similar situation a few years back with the Golden State Warriors in 2017 when suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain. He missed 19 games, but returned to help lead Golden State to an NBA title.