Kevin Durant (Photo : Reuters)
Kevin Durant will miss the rest of the season due to a bone graft surgery on his ailing right foot.
According to Oklahoma City Thunder General Manager Sam Presti, Durant will undergo surgery for his aching right foot and the bone graft procedure will be scheduled early next week. The NBA star is expected to return to basketball only after four to six months of recovery period.
The news came out Friday after a week when Presti announced that they have removed Durant from any basketball activities and hinted that the NBA star will be shut down, ESPN reported.
A bone graft surgery was recommended to Durant's injury by the Thunder's specialists. This was decided by the player himself and the management for his own benefit as well.
"With the focus of this process being aimed entirely on Kevin's long-term health and stability, it was the consensus of the specialist's team, in addition to a collective decision by Kevin, his representation and the Thunder, that to address the setback of the fracture site, a bone graft procedure would be the most proactive and recommended approach," Presti disclosed.
Durant, the Thunder's small forward who has led the NBA in points for the past five seasons. He played in 27 games in the current season with an average of 25.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game. He never did look alright on his foot after a Jones fracture delayed the start to the season, according to USA Today.
The Thunder is at 41-31 and currently in eighth place this Western Conference. The team is doing it without power forward Serge Ibaka. In lieu with Durant's current condition, it means he would not be back for the playoffs. Losing Durant for the rest of the season does not look good for the team.
The Thunder did hope he could rejoin Russell Westbrook to push the team back into title claim.
