Kevin Durant is expected to make a difference once he is up and about with the Brooklyn Nets. The only question is when. Though he is expected to make his return by the 2020-21 NBA season, Durant is not expected to immediately flash his old brilliant self. Returning from an Achilles injury is not that easy, meaning it will take time for him to be the dominant player he formerly was.
There is no telling how well Durant can contribute once he is back in harness of head coach Kenny Atkinson. The 31-year-old is likely to be placed on managed minutes, particularly in the early part of the season. As far as the level of play the two-time NBA champion can render, there are some that he could have one of the worst years of his pro hoop career.
ESPN's Tom Bontemps thinks that this is a big possibility. Tied up to that, seeing the Nets become an immediate contender also hangs in the balance. To somehow back that up, a comparison to the case of former teammate and current Los Angeles Lakers center DeMarcus Cousins was brought up.
When both were with the Golden State Warriors, most know how well-documented Boogie's injuries were. Coming off an ACL injury when he was still with the New Orleans Pelicans, Cousins returned for the Warriors but was hardly the same big man most knew him to be. Worse, he ended up suffering more injuries from there. In fact, Cousins is currently injured and has not played a single game with the Lakers this 2019-20 season.
The key thing here is the rest. Cousins could have opted to take the year off for his Achilles to heal better. Though he is the best person to determine if he would be ready to return, the decision had consequences. Now, the 29-year-old All-Star finds himself struggling back to health. His status remains questionable, the same as his future.
For Durant, the decision to sit out the current NBA season is lauded by many. Most feel that it would be in his best interest to get the proper time to heal and return when the time is right. But as far as living up to the investment that Nets made on him, it will take time. The Nets have been having success without Durant (and most recently Kyrie Irving), so KD may not have to carry Brooklyn on his shoulders. Atkinson has plenty of other guys who can help hold up the fort for the Nets.
