The NBA return date may be approaching, but players are still apprehensive about playing. There are still concerns about the safety of playing in the bubble. Owing to that, a few players like Avery Bradley and Davis Bertans, have pulled out. Now Kevin Durant, a player who already had the virus, has said that if he had a choice, he wouldn’t play too.

Durant hasn’t played a single game since he was injured in the 2019 NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors. Moreover, he is still not clear to play and was going to miss the return. But during an interview with Dawg Talk, he said that even if he was fit to play, he would opt against playing in Orlando.

Kevin Durant says he respects others’ decision to play

“I probably wouldn’t have played because the unknown going into that situation looks crazy right now, seeing so many new cases,” Durant said. “It’s just so unpredictable. It’s easy for me to say right now because I’m injured, but I probably wouldn’t have (gone) down there (to Orlando).”

Durant himself had tested positive for the virus back in March during the NBA hiatus. So he knows about the risk of playing. But he still said that if the others decide to play, he respects their decision.“If the guys feel safe enough to go play, that’s cool”

The Brooklyn franchise made a big splash in the 2019 Free Agency to sign both Durant and Kyrie Irving. However, Nets fans have still not been able to see them in action together. With Irving and Durant both out for the playoffs, December will be the first time they play together officially.

Without those two, the Nets are predicted to struggle in the playoffs. The last time Kyrie was out, Spencer Dinwiddie stepped up individually. But he couldn’t stop the team from going 19-23 during that run. The Nets will be tested to the core during this period now. There’s also a chance that they could miss out on the playoffs if they perform badly.