Kevin Durant met the media on Tuesday, and the Oklahoma City Thunder superstar seemed in good spirits despite a fractured foot that is expected to keep him out for six to eight weeks. He arrived and exited the press conference on a scooter, and he spoke of having a leadership role while sidelined. He said that the increased playing time for his teammates would be good for the Thunder in the long run, and he's excited to watch them play.
And no, he's not worried about how Russell Westbrook will handle his absence. He's sure Westbrook will be great.
"[I told Westbrook] just to stay who you are," Durant said. "You don’t have to change anything. You may get more opportunities now, but you don’t have to change what you do. He knows that. He’s a smart player. He knows that we all have to do it as a team."
When Westbrook was hurt last year, Durant took on an even bigger playmaking and scoring role than he normally does. As soon as the regular season starts, people will be watching to see what, if anything, will change with Westbrook. He's already incredibly aggressive with the ball in his hands, so how many shots will he take? Will his efficiency take a hit? The answers are probably "a lot" and "a little," respectively, but we'll see.
Durant also said repeatedly that he's not going to rush his return. This is despite the fact that he is itching to get back. While recovering from surgery, he's been on the court shooting in a chair.
"I seen that Cleveland and Chicago game last night and I wanted to get out there and play," Durant said. "As a competitor, man, I love to play basketball. That's all I've been doing and injuries have never had me out this long. But it’s a part of the game. I understand that."
The Thunder are obviously going to be a different-looking team for the first part of the season. Durant has told reserve forward Perry Jones -- who will likely get his first chance to play extended minutes since coming into the league -- to just play his game, to try not to overthink anything.
There's going to be pressure on Jones and several other role players, but Durant wants everyone to just move the ball and take advantage of the opportunities that are available. The MVP is not sure how long it will take to get back in game shape when he returns, but he's staying positive for now.
"When you're injured, sometimes you feel separated from the team," Durant said. "But I feel like I'm a part of it. Everybody's asking me for my input, so I feel good about that. I'm excited for the games, just to watch basketball, to see our team play and try to help."
