Warriors’ Kevin Durant Could Return Before The End Of The NBA Regular Season

Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Late last month, the Golden State Warriors suffered what was thought to be a potentially devastating blow. Superstar newcomer Kevin Durant went down with a knee injury which threatened to derail the team’s chemistry as well as hopes for competing for another NBA title in the Bay Area.

Fortunately for the Warriors, Durant’s injury wasn’t as severe as first anticipated and now he may be able to return before the end of the 2016-17 NBA regular season. According to Chris Haynes and Marc Stein of ESPN, Golden State is optimistic he’ll return for the NBA playoffs get underway:

The Golden State Warriors aren’t scheduled to formally update the status of Kevin Durant’s left knee until next week, but there is cautious optimism within the organization that Durant — should he maintain his current recovery arc — will indeed be able to return to the court before the end of the regular season, according to league sources.

Durant possibly returning earlier than anticipated is a step in the right direction for the Warriors. The top seed in the Western Conference is still very much up for grabs with the San Antonio Spurs only 2.5 games back of Golden State.

The Warriors have won five straight games and seven out of their last 10. Although Golden State is clearly not in dire straights without the perennial All-Star helping lead the way, striking up that chemistry with arguably the team’s best all-around player back on the floor before the postseason will bode well for the Warriors’ chances to run the table.

The Spurs and Houston Rockets will more than likely be the Warriors’ biggest challenges in the postseason. Getting Durant back up to speed will help they hold off these two heavyweights as they try to pave the way to make the NBA Finals for a third straight year.