Is Kevin Durant back? Technically, yes, he was back on a basketball court against the Minnesota Timberwolves in an NBA preseason game on Wednesday. But Durant also looked completely healthy after missing a majority of last season with a lingering foot injury. Initially ruled out six to eight weeks with a fractured right foot a year ago, Durant ended up missing 55 games and last played against Dallas in mid-February.
Against the Timberwolves, though, Durant looked like his old self, scoring 15 points on 5-for-8 shooting in 22 minutes. His jump shot was just as lethal as it was before his foot injury. If Durant had any rust at all, he shook it off quickly.
“I felt great,” Durant told the Associated Press after the game. “I think it was a little different. I haven’t been in my routine in a while as far as going to shootaround, taking my nap, getting to the game. So all that stuff was different. But once I got on the court, I felt right at home.”
Yes, it was just one preseason game, but Thunder fans should be encouraged with the progress Durant showed out of the gate. The Thunder have been plagued by injuries to key players like Durant, Russell Westbrook, and Serge Ibaka over the past few seasons. With their top three players now healthy, and with a new coach, Billy Donovan, the Thunder might finally have the necessary pieces in place to make another NBA Finals run.
