Oklahoma City forward Kevin Durant will be out for at least a month of the regular season after suffering a fractured foot injury and he could be out for six to eight weeks for OKC and that means the team will have to find a way to replace him in the lineup for the beginning of the year and that means relying hard on Russell Westbrook.
According to ESPN.com, Durant suffered what is called a Jones fracture to his right foot, which is a break near the base of the small toe and is an injury that makes it very tough for players to elevate and put up shots. Durant won the MVP award last season and now he will be out for potentially two months and that means missing the first stretch run of the season for the Thunder. Durant is going to get more testing for his foot and while he remarked to reporters that there was nothing to worry about, the Thunder will have to find a way to replace him.
Last season Durant won his first MVP award while averaging 32 points, 5.5 assists and 7.4 rebounds per game and it's possible he could be out for 10 weeks. Durant will need at least six to eight weeks to recover from the injury and that means a couple more weeks to get back into game shape and that could leave the Thunder chasing the top of the west standings. Obviously it doesn't mean the team can't make the playoffs, as they should still be one of the best in the west this season, but missing that time could mean a chance at a number one/two seed.
Durant could be out for between 20 and 25 games and that is a huge chunk of the season for the Thunder and that will mean Westbrook, Reggie Jackson and Serge Ibaka will have to step up. The team confirmed that Durant did not injure the foot on a particular play, but that he felt discomfort in the foot after a workout and that was when the injury was discovered. Durant played through pain in the last preseason game for the team and now he could be out for two months.
Durant has been injury free for the most part during his career and over the past five seasons, he has played in more games than anyone else in the league. Durant ranks first in that span in minutes, games played and points scored over the last five seasons, according to ESPN.com, while he has been second in win shares. Durant has only missed six games over the last five seasons.
