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Kevin Durant fractured his right foot on Saturday and will miss 6-8 weeks. Here’s what you need to know about last season’s league MVP’s injury.
1. He Fractured His Foot in Practice
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Oklahoma City General manager Sam Presti said in a statement Sunday that Durant informed the team of “discomfort” in his right foot after Saturday’s practice.
“After practice yesterday, Kevin made us aware of discomfort in his right foot,” Presti said. “We proceeded to perform the necessary imagining studies to determine the cause of his discomfort.
2. It is a ‘Jones’ Fracture
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Presti continued in the statement saying Durant has been diagnosed with a Jones fracture.
“Traditional treatment of this injury requires a surgical procedure and recent NBA cases have resulted in a return to play in 6-8 weeks,” Presti said. “We are in the process of collaboratively evaluating the most appropriate next steps with Kevin, his representatives, and Thunder medical personnel. Until a course of action is determined, we are unable to provide a timeline specific to Kevin’s case.”
According to CBS, a Jones fracture is a fracture of the diaphysis of the fifth metatarsal of the foot, at the base of the small toe. Those who sustain a Jones fracture have pain over this area, swelling, and difficulty walking. Healing of the injury can also be complicated by a lack of blood flow, which can prevent a re-joining of the fracture, or cause a re-fracture.
3. He Doesn’t Miss Games Often
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Durant doesn’t miss games often, missing just six in the last five seasons.
During that span, he leads all NBA players in number of games played (388), minutes played (15,064) and points (11.356 per game). He trails only Lebrons James in number of wins (78.4 per season) during that time.
In his seven-year career, Durant has missed a total of 32 games.
4. The Injury Could Have Season-Long Implications
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The injury will keep Durant sidelined for a good part of the season, so it will be up to guard Russell Westbrook to carry the Thunder.
The Thunder were already in a difficult place when it came to their two-guard rotation, with either Andre Roberson or Reggie Jackson expected to start next to Russell Westbrook. Now they face having to find a replacement at small forward. That will likely mean Jackson moves into the starting lineup, with Roberson sliding to the small forward position. Perry Jones III could also see increased minutes.
Depending on how other Western Conference contenders like the San Antonio Spurs and Los Angeles Clippers fare during that time, Oklahoma City could have a big hill to climb by the time Durant returns.
5. He Was League MVP Last Season
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Durant was the league MVP last season, becoming the first player to win both the scoring title and the MVP award in the same season since Allen Iverson accomplished the feat in 2000-01.
Over the course of the year, Durant averaged 32.0 points, 7.4 rebounds and 5.5 assists per game.
Miami’s Lebron James finished second while Blake Griffin of the Los Angeles Clippers was third. Joakim Noah and James Harden rounded out the top five.
During his speech, Durant thanked his mother.
“You made us believe, you kept us off the streets, put clothes on our backs, put food on the table,” a teary-eyed Durant said to his mother, who was in attendance. “You the real MVP.”