There is a sense of optimism surrounding the injury of Kevin Durant. Durant was diagnosed with a Grade 2 MCL sprain and tibial bone bruise.

The Warriors stated that Durant would be re-evaluated in four weeks and there was hope he could return before the regular season ends on April 12.

“It was a crucial probably 30 minutes where I thought that I’d have to go through this long rehab to get back onto the court,” Durant said when talking to the media for the first time since the injury. “And then I got a call that said it wasn’t as bad, so, that kind of eased my mind a little bit. But like I said, either way, I knew it’s something I had to conquer. I knew it’s something I had to work extremely hard to get back. I still do, no matter what, and I’ve been through it before.

“So, it’s a reason that I’m here now is that I work extremely hard and it’s nothing different. It’s just trying to get my knee right and get my body right. And hopefully I’ll be back to play soon.”

Durant declined to give any details about his possible return date. He declined to answer whether he was using cryogenic chamber therapy, which has a reputation as an effective recovery therapy for athletes. 

“I just do treatment on my knee and lift weights,” Durant said. “I shoot in a chair. I shot in a chair the other day. I have to keep the jumper right. That’s what I’ve been doing, and I’m sure that’s what I’ll be doing the next few days, but the next two weeks, I really don’t know. I’m just taking it a day at a time. We’ll see what happens, man.

“I’m looking forward to conquering this thing and getting better day by day and putting in the work every single day and getting out there and playing and enjoying the game with my teammates and playing in front of these fans. We’ll see what happens the next few weeks.”

“I told him six weeks goes by pretty quick. He has a long life ahead of him. It would be great if we could get him back in the last week of the regular season or so, but we’ll just have to wait and see,” Steve Kerr said.