Spare Brooklyn Nets fans, please.
Everybody knows how delicate lingering injury issues are, especially when star players are dealing with them. It’s even more difficult for the team to settle on a return date, because things change.
But in the case of the Nets and Kevin Durant, what turned out to be a minor hamstring issue turned into a two-month absence and what feels like miscommunication along the way.
A return was possible before the All-Star break. That didn’t happen. Durant was supposedly on schedule to captain his squad during All-Star weekend. Nope! Then he was set to get back in action shortly after the break. Not even close.
Now he “can play this week” but “nothing is set in stone”? Please, just let us know when he’s ready to go, because it couldn’t be less helpful to provide dishonest, vague and/or unsure updates.
Steve Nash said he's hopeful Durant can play this week but that it's definitely "not set in stone." Nets play again Wednesday and then the national TV game with the Lakers on Saturday.
— Brian Mahoney (@briancmahoney) April 5, 2021
At this point, any human being on earth can surmise Durant should be returning soon. We’ve been sitting here waiting for over a month now. And there are only 21 contests left in the season. He’ll need some time to get back to game speed before the playoffs.
But it’s frustrating and confusing that the Nets continue to string fans along, suggesting Durant “might” return, but probably won’t … just yet. Sorry, you’ll have to keep waiting as we inch you closer toward the edge of your seat.
And after Harden went down last week with a hamstring issue of his own, it truly felt comforting to know Durant could be back imminently, which could have helped Harden rest, recover and avoid any nagging after effects.
"Sources tell me Kevin Durant is closing in on a return to the floor."
— Stadium (@Stadium) April 1, 2021
Our NBA Insider @ShamsCharania has the latest on Durant, plus an update on James Harden's hamstring injury. pic.twitter.com/vwLoeKZepr
Far from it. It’s nearly been a week since that update above, and it will be over a week even if Durant were to get back on the court in the next few days. He’s still in street clothes and Harden took the least amount of time off possible after his injury. The result? Harden suffered a setback against the Knicks on Monday night and now we have no idea what’s going to happen. Why would he not get a semblance of similar treatment to KD?
The Nets and collective media can do Brooklyn fans a favor and provide definitive, substantial updates that actually push us in a specific direction, rather than constant nothingness that serves as nothing but false hope.
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Brooklyn Nets: Why didn’t James Harden get same injury treatment as Kevin Durant?
Brooklyn Nets star James Harden shouldn't have been out there against the New York Knicks in the first place due to his injury.