MY ACCOUNT
Kevin Durant has returned to on-court practice but the Brooklyn Nets are still not offering any timeframes on his return to play.
Durant has been sidelined since January 16 with an MCL strain in his left knee, with reports he will not return until after the All-Star Game on February 20.
The Nets have lost 10 in a row in the absence of Durant, who is averaging 29.3 points, 7.4 rebounds and 5.8 assists per game this season.
Durant joined the Nets for their current road trip, marking the first time since sustaining the injury and noted he is edging closer to a return.
“I’m getting better every day,” Durant told reporters prior to Saturday’s game against the Miami Heat.
“It’s obviously a process to get back on the court and I’m going through that every day. I’m feeling much better as each week passes. It’s slow but you know I’m looking forward to ramping things up.”
He added: “I feel that the next couple weeks that I’ll start to do more. That’s probably as much as I can give you and I don’t know for sure.
“I’m just listening to the training staff, just doing my job and coming in and following the game plan every day. Whatever they give me.
“But from the last few weeks I feel like they’ll be able to give me more and more each day goes on so I’ll ramp up here soon and we’ll see what happens.
“I want to be back as fast as possible but I also know that I don’t want to go out there and be 80 percent. I want to be 100 so I can be the best that I can be.”
Nets head coach Steve Nash also declined to offer any timelines on 12-time All-Star’s likely return.
“He’s on the court shooting, working through things, looking really good,” Nash said on Saturday. “There’s still a period of time he’s got to go through to get over the line, but really positive.”
The Nets also confirmed new trade acquisitions Ben Simmons, Seth Curry and Andre Drummond would not yet debut against the Heat on Saturday.
