Warriors Expect Kevin Durant Back For 2019 NBA Finals After Golden State Star Missed Entire Series

There is increased uncertainty surrounding Kevin Durant’s status for the 2019 NBA Finals. The superstar didn’t suit up for the Golden State Warriors’ sweep of the Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference Finals after initial reports indicated a right calf strain might only keep him out for the series opener.

Despite rumors that Durant might have played his final game for Golden State, Warriors owner Joe Lacob seems pretty confident that the star will be ready for this year’s final playoff series.

“I don’t know if you forgot so quickly how in the first round, and the second round, and how everyone was saying Kevin was the greatest player in the world and he was dominant. So he was incredibly important. Unfortunately, he got injured. He’s coming back now for the Finals, and so the story’s not fully written yet,” Lacob told The Athletic after the Warriors officially advanced to the finals in Portland Monday night.

Durant hasn’t played since Game 5 of Golden State’s second-round series against the Houston Rockets. The Warriors will have 10 days off between Game 4 of the conference finals and Game 1 of the NBA Finals on May 30.

The defending champs have actually played their best basketball of the postseason in Durant’s absence, going a perfect 5-0 with three road victories.

The Warriors incredibly now have only one loss in their last 32 games during which Stephen Curry has played and Durant hasn’t been in the lineup. Golden State’s success has prompted a debate about whether or not the team needs Durant to complete a three-peat.

If Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson continue to play this well, there might not be anyone that can defeat Golden State. That includes the Milwaukee Bucks, who have been the NBA’s best team all season long with MVP favorite Giannis Antetokounmpo leading the way.

The Bucks have a 2-1 series lead over Kawhi Leonard and the Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Curry averaged 36.5 points, 8.3 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game in the conference finals. Green was five total assists away from averaging a triple-double. The Splash Brothers made a combined 9.3 three-pointers per game.

Durant was the Warriors’ best player before getting hurt, posting historic numbers with 34.2 points per game on 51.3 percent shooting. He’s won consecutive NBA Finals MVP awards, leading Golden State to an 8-1 record in both series.