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TORONTO – As soon as Kevin Durant stepped onto the court Saturday, it was apparent he’s not ready to play yet. The injured Warriors superstar was wearing sandals instead of basketball shoes.
Sunday will mark the seventh consecutive game he has missed because of the right calf strain he suffered May 8. Perhaps he will play Game 3 on Wednesday night in Oakland, perhaps not. But to hear the Warriors tell it, Durant is still making an impact.
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“His presence is becoming more and more evident and becoming more and more normal,” Draymond Green said. “It obviously means a lot. When you’re talking about a guy like Kevin and a talent like that, he comes from a different view. He sees the game from a different perspective. It’s always good to get that perspective and try to incorporate what people are doing.”
Granted, the Warriors would rather have Durant on the court where he averaged a league-leading 34.2 points per game on 51.3 percent shooting. Even if they remain optimistic Durant will return in the Finals. the Warriors stress uncertainty about when he will play and begin practicing. He spent the past week completing light shooting drills. Amid all the fascination about whether Durant will leave the Warriors as a free agent next month, the Warriors have noticed him staying engaged with the team.
Before Saturday’s practice began, Durant talked at length with Warriors guard Quinn Cook; they both grew up in the Prince George County area of Maryland. Second-year forward Jordan Bell and guard Damion Lee joined the conversation, too. Before the Warriors warmed up, they held a film session dissecting their Game 1 loss to Toronto. During those times, his teammates say, Durant often shares his thoughts.
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“He’s chiming in when he sees something in the locker room and pointing out some X’s and O’s type of stuff,” Stephen Curry said. “But more so when you see him putting time in trying to get healthy and trying to get back out on the floor as soon as possible. That’s motivation.”
Because of his rehab regimen, Durant still has kept his distance. After speaking with Cook and Bell for about 15 minutes prior to Saturday’s practice, Durant hoisted up a shot before walking off the court. After receiving treatment for about 30 minutes, Durant then left the arena as the Warriors wrapped up practice. He also has not sat with the team on the bench during games.
And yet Durant traveled to Toronto for reasons beyond needing to spend time with the training staff. As Warriors coach Steve Kerr said, “Kevin also wanted to be with the guys.”
“Anybody who goes through an injury like that, you kind of feel alienated because your schedule is a little different,” Curry said. “Most of the time you’re kind of [isolated] with our athletic training staff, and putting extra hours in. Stuff starts to feel monotonous, especially with the big stage of the Finals.”
Curry and Green can somewhat relate to what Durant has experienced. Curry missed 11 games this season because of a sore left groin. Green sat for 13 games because of an injured toe in his right foot. Curry initially did not travel with the team, until deciding otherwise after Green and Durant had their on-court argument. Green mixed his in-game attendance either on the bench or in the trainer’s room.
As for Durant, he did not fly with the Warriors for their decisive Game 6 win against Houston in the Western Conference semifinals. Nor did he travel for the Warriors’ eventual sweep against the Portland Trail Blazers in the Western Conference Finals. Then, Durant had not received any clearance to complete any on-court work. During those times though, Durant stayed involved.
He communicated with his teammates and team officials via Facetime before and after the Warriors’ Game 6 win over the Rockets. During the Warriors’ homestand against Portland, Durant sat in on film sessions and team meetings. After receiving clearance this week to complete light shooting drills before the team’s trip to Toronto, Durant has joined the team at the beginning of its practice sessions.
“All of a sudden he’s on the bus to shootaround or to practice,” Green said. “Once you start to get closer, you start to kind of move back into a normal schedule. You’re starting to see him and hear his voice more. You’re starting to hear him coming up with adjustments even before the game and giving his input. But that’s kind of just the natural build-up when you’re going through an injury.”
Through that time, the Warriors have stressed two things. Even when they won five consecutive playoff games without Durant, the Warriors argued they would not have needed to overextend themselves or overcome three 17-point deficits against Portland had he played. Even with losing Game 1 against Toronto the Warriors refused to pin that on Durant’s absence and blamed it more on their defensive effort. And with Durant’s return looming, the Warriors appreciate he has shown ways to be helpful even without playing.
“We’re all in this together,” Curry said. “He’s exemplifying that with his presence in the locker room here. And he will again when he gets back on the floor.”
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