COUNTING THE MINUTES

Durant will play all over court, but endurance level is still a question

With the first preseason game of the 2020-21 campaign looming this weekend, the Nets are focused on gauging Kevin Durant’s physical capabilities following his Achilles tendon rehab — as well as how he should be deployed.

“From a minutes standpoint, seeing how long I can play now,” Durant said of how he hopes to be used this preseason on a Zoom call Wednesday. “And I’m talking with the training staff and the coaching staff to see what my load will be for this first preseason game.

“I’m just looking forward to seeing how my body responds and how we respond as a team my first game.”

Considering coach Steve Nash said he wanted time to see Durant in a team-practice setting before even thinking about how to utilize him this preseason, expect the Nets to err on the side of caution with the 10-time All-Star. After all, Sunday’s game against the Wizards will be Durant’s long-awaited Brooklyn debut since sitting out the entire 2019-20 season with the Achilles injury he suffered in Game 5 of the 2019 Finals with the Warriors.

In terms of where Durant fits in the lineup, however, the Nets are seemingly much less particular about their approach.

“As far as schemes and how I fit on the offense and defense, I think Coach is going to use me in a variety of ways,” Durant said. “Especially as a small-ball 5 and 4 sometimes, and bringing the ball up too, so I’ve just got to be ready for anything.”

Asked if there has been an emphasis on him playing as a small-ball 5, Durant said the focus has been on where everybody handles the ball best and where each player can utilize his strengths.

“Anybody can bring it up, and guys are going to be switching on the defensive side of the ball,” he said. “I think as the game goes and as it ebbs and flows, each player, I think guys are going to be playing different positions.

“On one possession, Kyrie [Irving] might be the 2, Caris [LeVert] might be bringing it up. So, you’ve just got to be ready for anything. Coach is just going to throw me out there and see how I respond.”

Durant, who signed a four-year, $164 million deal with the Nets in July 2019, said his familiarity with the organization from his rehab last year has made his first Nets training camp smoother than he thought it would be. Though he wasn’t participating in games last season, Durant was often on the sidelines at practices and still managed to be a presence on the team.

After acknowledging how early in the season it is and that the players are still learning each other’s tendencies, Durant said he is excited about the future of the Nets. Guard Bruce Brown, who came to Brooklyn in a three-team trade, has only been a Net for roughly two weeks and already said it’s the “best team I’ve probably ever been on.”

Durant, who won two NBA championships with the Warriors, wouldn’t go that far, but said he believes the Nets have the tools and experience to be capable of competing at a high level every night.

And what if Rockets star James Harden, whose rumored desire to come to Brooklyn continues, suddenly became a part of the equation?

“I don’t think about James Harden at all,” Durant said. “He doesn’t play on our team.”