Kevin Durant Injury Could Delay His Return Date, Manager Reveals

The Golden State Warriors owner seems confident that Kevin Durant will return to the court for the NBA Finals that get underway May 30, but the small forward’s manager Rich Kleiman has not painted a rosy picture with regard to his imminent return. Durant suffered a right calf strain during Game 5 against the Houston Rockets almost two weeks ago.

It was initially expected to be a short-term absence but he missed Game 6 against the Rockets and all four games in their 4-0 sweep of the Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference finals. Steve Kerr admitted that the injury was worse than first expected but was hoping to have the forward in the squad for the finals.

Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Alan Beyer explained that a calf strain will require a minimum of two weeks of treatment and rehabilitation but admitted it could take longer for the injury to heal 100 percent. Durant has suffered a similar injury in the past and the Warriors will be cautious not to rush him and risk permanent damage that could hamper his career in the long term.

Kleiman, Durant’s manager, explained it was a “real injury” and that was why Durant was taking his time to return to the court. He was hopeful of returning next week but indicated the injury could keep him out for two more weeks, which means the two-time NBA Finals MVP could miss the first two or three games of the finals.

"His health is good," Kleiman said during an interview with WSJ Sports. "When you have an injury that's real, and it's a real injury, for him, he's got to be Kevin Durant. He has about the highest pain threshold of someone I know, so, when he misses time, it's because the injury is real. It's a real injury and I hope we can see him next week, or two weeks from now."

The Warriors forward’s manager also addressed his client’s upcoming free agency plans and dismissed all speculation that suggested Durant has already made up his mind about joining the New York Knicks when he becomes an unrestricted free agent in the summer. Kleiman made it clear that Durant is “100 percent not decided” on his plans in the summer as his current focus was entirely on the Warriors and winning a third straight NBA title.

"No, no, no. That is 100 percent undecided. I'm waiting on Kevin. That's the truth. I think there's a feeling that this thing is like war games and everybody is playing chess years out,” Kleiman said. “But when somebody gets to the level of basketball that he's at, you can't juggle focus like that. There's so many things he's juggling too. He's not scripting his future while he's playing the way he plays and practicing the way he's practicing."

"I think it's frustrating honestly, at times. But I get it, I do get it. Even as a kid, the soap opera of it all was just beginning, and I liked it. Now, in some ways it's more soap opera at times than basketball. But he really doesn't know, and I really don't know."