Brooklyn Nets: 5 storylines that will come to an apex in final stretch
By Duncan Smith
Brooklyn Nets storyline No. 2: Can Kevin Durant stay healthy?
So far in Kevin Durant’s tenure with the Brooklyn Nets, he’s played just 21 games. He missed all of last season with a ruptured Achilles suffered in Game 5 of the 2019 NBA Finals with the Golden State Warriors, and his presence has been intermittent this season. Still, he’s been fantastic when he has been able to play.
This season he’s averaging 28.1 points, 7.3 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game while shooting 52.8 percent from the floor and a career-best 43.7 percent from 3-point range. Kevin Durant remains an absolute cheat code when he’s on the floor.
No matter what James Harden and Kyrie Irving do, it’s hard to envision them winning an NBA championship without a healthy Durant. The top of the Eastern Conference alone is mighty, with Joel Embiid’s Philadelphia 76ers and Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Milwaukee Bucks sitting in Durant’s path back to the Finals.
He remains the most important and talented piece on an incredibly talented team, and keeping him healthy is necessary. We’ll see if the Brooklyn Nets can do it. If they can, the NBA Finals await. If not, an early exit is the most likely outcome.