“Not playing against LeBron at home” - Injured Kevin Durant reveals how frustrating it is to miss action against former teammates
Kevin Durant and LeBron James
© Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports/© Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Kevin Durant is currently recovering from an MCL sprain in his right knee, making the Brooklyn Nets star on the verge of missing yet another All-Star Game. While the 34-year-old forward doesn’t feel ‘sorry’ for himself being sidelined due to another serious injury, he did admit how frustrating it gets to not play in the star-studded exhibition game and even against LeBron James, and his former teammates in the regular season.
Speaking to the media via Nets Video, Durant said, “I wasn't feeling sorry for myself, or why me? It's like, sh*t, another year not playing against my old teammates, another year, at that point, maybe missing the All-Star Game, not playing against LeBron James at home. Stuff like that I look forward to."
As rightly pointed out, Durant’s frustration is not limited to missing the All-Star Game once again but even to not even playing against Golden State Warriors (January 22, 2023), and now against LeBron James-led Los Angeles Lakers on coming Monday. The last time KD battled it out against LeBron on the court was way back in 2018 on Christmas Day.
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Kevin Durant’s Injury Status
As pointed out by The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Kevin Durant is making progress in the right direction. There is even a growing optimism about KD being able to return to the court for Jacque Vaughn before the All-Star Game. Who knows maybe the Slim Reaper can even feature in the star-studded game.
Durant was one of the frontrunners for the 2023 MVP honor, averaging 29.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game at an efficiency rate of 55.9% from the field. Although since he has been injured, the Nets have bounced back from a 4-game losing stretch to win two consecutive games, one of which was against Durant’s former team - the Golden State Warriors.
When did Kevin Durant last feature in an All-Star Game?
For those who are not aware, the 12-time All-Star was last spotted in an All-Star Game back in 2019. The two-time All-Star Game MVP was out injured recovering from the Achilles tear he suffered in the 2019 Finals in 2020, dealt with a hamstring injury in 2021, and an MCL sprain in 2022. This year too, he has been struggling with an MCL sprain (right knee).
That being said, when Durant was asked about his desire to feature in the All-Star Game this season, the 4-time scoring champion went on to reveal how he desperately wants to be a part of the festivity but knows his value in the team, subsequently wants to focus on his overall recovery primarily.
“I want to play tomorrow if I can. That's where my sense of urgency is. I don't want to rush anything and make sure I'm 100%. But I want to play.”
