NEW YORK — Kevin Durant reflected on his own injury experiences as he expressed concern for Nikola Jokic after the latter faced a similar mishap on the court. Durant, who had to endure multiple injury setbacks during his time with the Brooklyn Nets, spoke about the importance of recognizing these unfortunate incidents as freak occurrences.
Following the Brooklyn Nets’ 120-96 loss to the Houston Rockets, Durant noted how injuries can lead to the unfortunate label of being “injury-prone,” a term he hopes does not follow Jokic. He shared his personal experience, recalling how he suffered a medial collateral ligament sprain in January 2022 when teammate Bruce Brown fell into his leg. This injury sidelined him for 21 games. Durant also highlighted another incident on January 8, 2023, which saw him injured again in a similar manner, this time by Jimmy Butler, that ultimately led to his trade to the Phoenix Suns.
Jokic, the three-time NBA MVP, suffered a hyperextended knee during a game against the Miami Heat when a teammate inadvertently stepped on his foot, causing his knee to buckle. The Denver Nuggets announced that Jokic will be reevaluated in four weeks, a timeline that Durant feels could allow Jokic to return sooner since it is not a severe injury.
“It’s good to see it’s only four weeks and it’s not anything too big,” Durant stated. “It wasn’t an MCL sprain or Level 2, it felt like it was just a tweak and he’s going to be back out there soon. He’s great for the game and you want to see the best players on the floor at all times.”
The sentiment within the basketball community seems to resonate with Durant’s optimism regarding Jokic’s recovery. As fans and athletes alike hope for a speedy return to health for one of the league’s brightest stars, it also reinforces the unpredictable nature of sports injuries and the resilience of athletes who face these challenges.