After executing a blockbuster trade, the Nets have assembled a new Big Three of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons.
The first step towards seeing this trio in action: Durant getting healthy.
On Jan. 16, the Nets announced that an MRI revealed a sprained medial collateral ligament (MCL) of Durant’s left knee, giving him a timeline of four-to-six weeks of rehab and recovery.
When will Durant return? Here’s the latest on what we know about his injury.
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What is Kevin Durant’s injury?
Durant has a sprained MCL in his left knee.
The severity of Durant’s knee injury was not disclosed but in 2017, he suffered a Graded 2 sprained MCL and was sidelined for 19 games.
How long will Kevin Durant be out?
On Jan. 16, the Nets gave Durant a recovery and rehab timeline of four-to-six weeks.
At the Feb. 10 trade deadline, Durant was midway through week four of the timeline and still listed as out with a left MCL sprain on official injury reports.
Weeks earlier, Yahoo’s Chris Haynes reported that Durant planned on sitting out of the 2022 NBA All-Star Game on Feb. 20, which comes five weeks to the date of the Nets’ initial diagnosis.
Sources: My @NBAonTNT report on Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant expected to sit out the All-Star Game next month in Cleveland. pic.twitter.com/AXKJg7MzSd
— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) January 26, 2022
When will Kevin Durant return to the Nets lineup?
On Monday, Feb. 28, head coach Steve Nash ruled Durant out for both contests against the Toronto Raptors (on Feb. 28 and March 1), but he’s hopeful that the star forward can return later in the week.
Nash says KD is out vs. Toronto on Tuesday as well. He’s hopeful he will he back either Thursday vs. Heat or Sunday vs. Celtics.
— Nick Friedell (@NickFriedell) February 28, 2022
It has been just over six weeks from the original timeline, so Durant is slightly behind schedule, but it appears his return is on the horizon.
The Nets have gone 5-14 during Durant’s 19-game absence, falling into the No. 8 seed in the East. With fewer than 20 games remaining on the schedule by the time he returns, Brooklyn has its work cut out to get out of the Play-In Tournament range and into a top-six seed.
Nets upcoming schedule 2021-22
| Date | Opponent | Time | National TV |
| Feb. 28 | vs. Raptors | 7:30 p.m. | – |
| March 1 | at Raptors | 7:30 p.m. | – |
| March 3 | vs. Heat | 7:30 p.m. | TNT |
| March 6 | at Celtics | 1:00 p.m. | ABC |
| March 8 | at Hornets | 7:00 p.m. | – |
| March 10 | at 76ers | 7:30 p.m. | TNT |