Rockets’ Kevin Durant Had Thumb Surgery Recently

New Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant had thumb surgery recently, NBA sources told Chris Baldwin of PaperCity.

The surgery is considered minor.

“New Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant underwent thumb surgery recently, NBA sources tell PaperCity,” Baldwin wrote. “The very quiet surgery — which no outlet has reported on till now — is considered minor and a source tells PaperCity that Rockets leadership ‘did not give it a second thought’ after the team’s doctors looked at x-rays of the thumb.

“The thumb injury and quiet offseason surgery raised no concerns to the Rockets’ decision makers, according to a source with knowledge of their thinking.”

The Rockets traded Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the 10th pick in this year’s NBA Draft and five second-round picks to the Suns for Durant, who averaged 26.6 points last season while shooting 52.7% from the field, 43.0% from beyond the arc and 83.9% from the free-throw line.

Houston now has a strong core of Durant, Amen Thompson, Alperen Sengun, Jabari Smith Jr. and Fred VanVleet.

Rockets head coach Ime Udoka worked with Durant when the two were with the Nets in 2020-21. They have a good relationship. 

A 15-time All-Star, Durant has career averages of 27.2 points, 7.0 rebounds and 4.4 assists in 1,123 NBA games. He won back-to-back titles and Finals MVPs in 2017 and 2018 with the Warriors. 

According to Kelly Iko and Sam Amick of The Athletic, Durant is “incredibly excited” about getting traded to the Rockets. 

“According to a source close to Durant, the future Hall of Famer is ‘incredibly excited’ about the opportunity to join a contender in Houston, surrounded by a talented coaching staff and top-five defensive unit,” Iko and Amick wrote. “The news broke just as he was being interviewed in New York for Fanatics Fest, with the 14-time All-Star letting out a huge grin in front of hundreds of adoring fans.

“Durant has one season remaining on his current contract (worth $54.7 million). Yet while he may not sign an extension when he’s eligible in July, team sources said there is a strong belief that this will be a long-term partnership. On paper, the Rockets’ potential looks extremely promising.”