In Game 5 of the NBA Finals last season, Kevin Durant, playing for the Golden State Warriors at the time, suddenly went limp on the court. The two-time MVP had ruptured his Achilles tendon, an injury that would sideline him for the 2019-20 season. Already expected to be traded away from the Warriors, the injury may have played into where he finally ended up, and the Brooklyn Nets may have gotten the steal of a lifetime. However, the 6’10” forward isn’t yet ready for game time and, even if the NBA picks up where it left off after suspending the season because of the coronavirus, Durant won’t be suiting up.

The initial idea was for Durant to finish his physical therapy and recuperation and be able to join the Nets sometime during the regular season. When the coronavirus hit, it was seen as a bonus for the star, as it would give him more time to recover. However, Brooklyn has a lot of money riding on Durant, and wants to make sure he’s going to be available for the long haul, not just a few games.

Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN confirms that Durant is out this season, no matter what. He asserts on his Woj Pod podcast, “Kevin Durant’s not coming back to the Nets this year. That’s not happening… They’re not playing him.”

When the Warriors were in the NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors, the team expected the championship to be a slam dunk because of Durant. He soared through the first four games and, in Game 5, picked up 11 points in just the first 12 minutes of play. It was then, though, that he suddenly went limp, clutching his right leg. The diagnosis was grim, and he went under the knife two days later to try to repair the tendon.