Nets Kevin Durant would return before All-Star break in ‘ideal situation’

BROOKLYN — If it was up to Kevin Durant he would be playing tomorrow, but the Nets superstar is still recovering from an MCL sprain and going through the process. Still, he gave fans hope that he could return to the court before the NBA All-Star Break during the latest episode of the ETCs podcast.

Durant has been out since Jan. 8 when he suffered the injury against the Miami Heat.

“Moreso than just the All-Star Game, I want to play games. I want to play as many games as possible, and I feel like the All-Star Game is part of the season,” Durant said . “I want to be a part of everything throughout the year. I hate being injured. I hate not being out there with the guys. I hate not traveling. All that stuff, it means a lot to me. I would love to (play in All-Star Game), but that would be a nice target point for me, I guess. A few games before, get my legs up under me and then, in the ideal situation, slide into the All-Star break, back healthy and back on the floor.”

The Nets have managed to tread water while Durant has been out, but Brooklyn would happily take him back on the floor for them sooner than later if he’s healthy. Durant’s recovery had been going as expected and he will be reassessed next week, which should give a much clearer picture of when he will be back.

Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn said before Monday’s win over the Lakers that he has spoken with Durant during his recovery, but not so much about the progress of it.

“I’ve kind of compartmentalized and stayed away from him when he’s in the gym,” Vaughn said. “But all I know is I’m gonna get an update, I think next week. So really my conversations with him have been outside of the gym when he is not on the floor.”

The Nets coach added that it allows him not to get ahead of himself and stay in the moment of the game his team has in front of them.

“That’s kind of what I’ve been preaching to this group is take care of the now,” he continued. “Today is the most important game. So don’t even get yourself in a mental position of thinking about a week from now. I did that the first two weeks I asked everyone else to kind of abide by that and let me know Once the update comes around.”

Durant had been averaging 29.7 points per game this season before the injury.