Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder’s star player, has been sidelined for 6-8 weeks by a Jones fracture to his right foot, an injury that could mean an end to the team’s season before it’s truly begun.

Kevin Durant Could Be Out For 6-8 Weeks

Thunder general manager Sam Presti announced the injury Sunday, saying that Durant’s fracture to the base of his small toe is an injury that developed overtime, and they do not believe one specific incident caused the injury. Though the exact timetable for Durant’s recovery is unknown, Presti said that it would likely be in the 6-8 week range, a standard recovery time for a Jones fracture.

“After practice yesterday, Kevin made us aware of discomfort in his right foot. We proceeded to perform the necessary imaging studies to determine the cause of his discomfort. At this stage, Kevin has been diagnosed with a Jones fracture. Traditional treatment of this injury requires a surgical procedure and recent NBA cases have resulted in a return to play in 6-8 weeks. We are in the process of collaboratively evaluating the most appropriate next steps with Kevin, his representatives, and Thunder medical personnel. Until a course of action is determined, we are unable to provide a timeline specific to Kevin’s case,” Presti said in a statement.

Sam Presti Press Conference

Presti also answered questions about how Durant’s injury would impact the team’s NBA season. Durant earned the title of NBA MVP last season and his absence could have serious consequences for the Thunder, specifically their standing in the Western Conference.

“Our team and organization have been in situations similar to this in the past. This is when we’re at our best. One of the things that we traditionally try to do is, within every adversity, we’re always looking for where the opportunity is… Our job is to identify the opportunity, to figure out how we improve upon it, how we seize it and how we execute on it, so that when Kevin does return, that we’re a better team for it,” Presti told reporters on Sunday.

Durant, who was not present at the press conference, issued a short statement on Twitter, assuring fans that he will be fine. “It’s all good. Thanks for the love. I’ll be fine,” Durant wrote.