Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Nets say Durant likely out for year
BASKETBALL Nets: Durant likely out for year
NEW YORK — The Brooklyn Nets expect to wait a year before Kevin Durant plays for them.
General Manager Sean Marks said Tuesday that the Nets are planning this season without the injured AllStar. He added Durant will have a say in determining when he’s ready.
“With Kevin, I think what we’re going to say is the expectations are that he’ll be out for the year,” Marks said.
Durant is recovering from surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon. He was injured while playing for Golden State in the NBA Finals, then left the Warriors to sign with the Nets in July.
At the time, the Nets left open the possibility that Durant could play this season. That’s still possible, but Marks isn’t banking on it.
“I’ve been excited to see, I think we all have, how he’s approached this rehab, which has been great, very refreshing and energizing for the whole group,” Marks said. “But at the end of the day, this is a long-term plan here. This was never about this next season. This is about getting an elite athlete back to elite physical shape on the court, whatever that takes.”
Durant returned from an injured calf muscle he suffered in the postseason for Game 5 of the NBA Finals, but lasted only 12 minutes before leaving with a more severe injury.
Marks said Durant hasn’t given any indication that he plans to take things slowly.
“I think you’re looking at one of the great competitors out there, so I think I would be remiss if I said no, he probably doesn’t want to play,” Marks said. “I think it’s obvious he wants to play, but I think there’s more at stake here.
“This is, again, a long-term approach. There are a lot of people with a lot of sweat equity in this from the rehab perspective and so forth. And so I think it’ll be a group that makes the decision, and obviously Kevin included as to when and how that return is made.”
BASEBALL Mets to honor Koosman
Jerry Koosman will become the third New York Mets player to have his number retired by the team. The popular left-hander will be honored sometime next season, with his No. 36 joining Tom Seaver’s No. 41 and Mike Piazza’s No. 31 on display along the Citi Field roof. Chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon announced the plans Tuesday on the 50th anniversary of New York winning its first championship, the 1969 National League East title, with a pitching staff led by Seaver and Koosman. The Mets have also retired the numbers of ex-managers Casey Stengel (No. 37) and Gil Hodges (No. 14). Jackie Robinson’s No. 42 was retired by all major league clubs in 1997. Current Manager Mickey Callaway has been wearing No. 36 but says he’s glad to switch. He changed to No. 26 for Tuesday night’s game against Miami. Koosman pitched for the Mets from 1967-78 and won twice during the 1969 World Series, throwing a complete game to beat heavily favored Baltimore in the clinching Game 5.