Confirming a Friday report, star forward Kevin Durant told Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated in a wide-ranging interview that he won’t play for the Nets when the 2019/20 season resumes this summer.
“My season is over. I don’t plan on playing at all,” Durant said. “We decided last summer when it first happened that I was just going to wait until the following season. I had no plans of playing at all this season.”
Durant tore his Achilles tendon nearly a year ago during the 2019 NBA Finals and had originally been ruled out for the entire 2019/20 season. When the coronavirus pandemic resulted in the end of the season being postponed, there was some speculation that KD might not have to wait until 2020/21 to make his Nets debut after all. However, reports in recent weeks continually indicated that was unlikely to be the case.
Prior to the suspension of the season in March, Durant had progressed to scrimmaging with teammates, but his rehab process slowed down when practice facilities became unavailable and group activities were no longer permitted. The former MVP told Spears that his rehab is still going well and that he’s “feeling like a normal player again,” but said putting off his return until next season is the right call.
“It’s just best for me to wait,” Durant said. “I don’t think I’m ready to play that type of intensity right now in the next month. It gives me more time to get ready for next season and the rest of my career.”
As for teammate Kyrie Irving, the expectation for now is that he also won’t be healthy enough to return for the Nets this summer in Orlando. Irving is recovering from undergoing shoulder surgery earlier this year.
According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski (via Twitter), Irving suggested on Friday’s NBPA conference call that he may end up joining the Nets this summer as an inactive player supporting his teammates.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Nets bench next season
Dinwindie
LaVert
Joe Harris
Allen
Temple
Trade 19th pick for 11th man
65 win teams
Nets
Clippers
Both teams need to pay 70 million luxury tax though
Best they don’t play. Just get ready for next season. No point making them play after injury. In playoff games. All about next yr for Nets. Wish them the best.
Warriors 17.2 million TE will be expired October 25.
According to ESPN Bobby Marks.
Bobby Marks might appreciate more completeness if his name is used.
Derrick Rose 2.0. His fear of injury and fear of playing on his healed injury will prevent him from being the player he has been up til now.
Durant will always be able to shoot the lights out over anybody
Not if he is sitting on the sidelines.
When Rose lost his athleticism, it took him a while to figure things out much like a pitcher who loses velocity. He’s now a pretty good starting point guard, even though his would-be Hall of Fame career has been over for years.
Durant never really needed to overpower guys athletically or physically. He’s so skillful that it doesn’t matter. At worst, even like 80% of KD is better than pretty much everyone outside of a handful of guys and more than deserving of a max contract and #1 option.
Because if there’s one thing that defines KI, it’s “supporting his teammates”.
Hahaha. So true Bos2AZ
Smart decision. When you’re young enough, you don’t risk your long-term health for one long shot at a Championship that’ll surely come with a “Yeah, but…” attached.
Shouldn’t be paid if not playing.
Terrible take. The Nets gave him a max deal while he was injured and knew he was not going to play this season.
Perry is scared of a world with socialism. He is doing his best to hold it all together.
Any Nets fans OK with this? There window to win is now. Why wait till next year so much can happen next year.