Oklahoma City Thunder: Title Window Closing?

Durant’s Injury

When the world first discovered that Kevin Durant was dealing with a Jones fracture last summer, it was hard not to be concerned. A delicate foot injury like that, especially for a 7-footer, is always alarming. If that kind of injury isn’t given the proper amount of time to heal, it’s one that could become a recurring problem.

According to the statement released by Thunder general manager Sam Presti, Durant’s Jones fracture was showing signs of regression, which is why he will require his third surgery in less than a year. The bone graft procedure he will undergo is “the standard procedure for the 5 to 8 percent of Jones fracture surgeries that do not initially have success or experience setbacks sometime within the recovery period.”

If anything in that stood out to you there, it should be the highly concerning statement that Durant fits in with the 5 to 8 percent of Jones fracture surgeries that fail.

Seven-footers and foot injuries have historically been an awful mix. Rasheed Wallace‘s career came to a close because of a Jones fracture. That was the start of a slippery slope for Yao Ming as well. Brook Lopez had a Jones fracture in his foot once, and his career hasn’t been the same since. The worrisome news doesn’t stop there:

Again, it’s too soon to assume the worst. There’s no reason to believe that Durant can’t come back 100 percent healthy next season. But not everyone is as lucky as Russell Westbrook to undergo three surgeries in one year and come back as dynamic as ever.

For a 7-footer with a foot injury, Kevin Durant’s long-term health is not assured, which is why the Thunder are doing the right thing in shutting him down. Looking ahead to next season and preserving the long-term health of their 26-year-old MVP is the way to go here.

Next: Durant's Free Agency