Kevin Durant has already been ruled out for the NBA restart in Orlando next month due to his ongoing rehabilitation from a right Achilles tendon tear. But even if he was healthy, the Nets’ superstar forward might not have joined his teammates anyway due to concerns about the new coronavirus pandemic.
“I feel like I right now probably wouldn’t have played because the unknown going into that situation seems crazy right now, seeing so many new cases,” Durant said Thursday on the Dawg Talk podcast. “It is so unpredictable. It’s easy for me to say now because I’m hurt, but I probably wouldn’t have gone there [to Orlando]. “
Twenty-two teams, including the Nets, will resume the postponed NBA season in late July at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports in Orlando, Florida.
Several players, including Avery Bradley of the Lakers, Trevor Ariza of the Trail Blazers and Davis Bertans of the Wizards, have announced that they do not plan to participate. The NBA said Friday that 16 of the 302 players evaluated are positive for the virus. The state of Florida continues to see an increase in people testing positive for coronavirus, reporting 9,000 new cases on Friday. In mid-March, Durant tested positive, a few days after the season was suspended.
Although Nets teammate and close friend Kyrie Irving has been one of the anti-movement players, Irving, due to shoulder surgery, would not have played anyway, Durant said he does not think it is a bad idea. It just isn’t something you would be willing to participate in.
“If the boys feel safe, safe enough to go play, that’s great. I’m with them, ”said Durant, 31. “If they don’t feel like they should go there and play or don’t feel safe, I’m with them, too. I’m interested in everything the group wants. If it’s good for the betterment of the whole group, then I’m fine with that. But it probably would have cooled me down. “
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