It’s been practically 4 years since Kevin Durant made the choice to depart the Golden State Warriors for the Brooklyn Nets in the summertime of 2019, and through that point the two-time champion has but to play at Chase Center in entrance of Warriors followers. It’s an odd reality when you consider it, however for every scheduled matchup one thing has gotten in the best way.
For the primary 12 months after leaving the Warriors, Durant was sidelined with a torn Achilles which value him the whole thing of the 2019-20 season. Following that 12 months, Durant really did play at Chase Center when the Nets confronted the Warriors. However, as a result of COVID-19 pandemic, followers weren’t in attendance. The 12 months after that, an MCL sprain sidelined Durant for Brooklyn’s matchup in San Francisco, and earlier than he was traded to the Phoenix Suns again in February one other MCL sprain stored him out of the Nets highway sport in opposition to the Warriors.
He would’ve had one other alternative to play in entrance of Warriors followers Monday evening when the Suns headed as much as northern California, however a sprained ankle final week delayed the return but once more.
Prior to Monday’s sport, wherein the Warriors received 123-112, Golden State head coach Steve Kerr reacted to Durant being out one other sport at Chase Center.
“It is nuts,” Kerr stated. “It is insane. It’s been some time. It’s been some time. How a few years? Four years? This is the fourth 12 months? And we have at all times type of anticipated his return and we have at all times had a deliberate ‘welcome again’ video to thank him for all the pieces he did for this franchise, after which actually each sport, one thing comes up, or as you stated, the pandemic.”
Kerr continued.
“I keep in mind the one sport he did play with Brooklyn with no followers right here. So it is a disgrace as a result of I feel our followers would give him plenty of love, the applause and the vitality he deserves for all the pieces he did for us.”
In the three seasons Durant spent with Golden State he helped win the workforce two championships, and was named Finals MVP twice. The Warriors would possibly’ve received a third-straight title if it hadn’t been for Durant’s torn Achilles in Game 1 of the 2019 NBA Finals in opposition to the Toronto Raptors.
While the Suns and Warriors do not face one another once more within the common season, there’s the potential for the 2 groups going through one another within the postseason. If Durant is wholesome, it’s doable that his return in entrance of Warriors followers may are available in what would undoubtedly be a extremely aggressive playoff sport.
