Report: Kevin Durant Won't Travel With Nets Due to Contact Tracing, to Return Friday

Durant was instructed to leave the bench during the middle of the third quarter after playing for 19 minutes due to contact tracing.

As the NBA navigates a season played through a global pandemic, the uncertainty looming under that endeavor was on full display at Barclays Center in Brooklyn for Friday night's game between the Nets and Raptors.

Nets star forward Kevin Durant was held out of the start of the game due to health and safety protocols, the team announced just before tip-off. A team spokesperson said Durant could be available later in the game pending "further updates," according to ESPN's Malika Andrews. 

Durant was withheld from the lineup while reportedly undergoing contact tracing, per Andrews and Adrian Wojnarowski. Wojnarowski later reported that Durant had been cleared to play after completing contact tracing. It marked the first time in Durant's career that he came off the bench.

Brad Penner/USA TODAY Sports

The "all clear" would be short-lived, however, as Durant was eventually told by a league official during the third quarter that he was not, in fact, cleared to play. Durant left the bench during an official review of a foul call and headed to the locker room. His night was done after eight points, six rebounds and five assists on 3-for-8 shooting in 19 minutes.

Durant took to Twitter to express his frustration with the situation during the game.

Free me

— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) February 6, 2021

During the fourth quarter, Wojnarowski and Andrews reported that Durant had tested negative three times within the past 24 hours, though had close contact before the game with someone who had tested positive. The league later confirmed that report in a statement, per Shams Charania of The Athletic, a statement Durant wasn't pleased with.

Yo @nba, your fans aren’t dumb!!!! You can’t fool em with your Wack ass PR tactics.. #FREE7 https://t.co/78N1iKFAoc

— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) February 6, 2021

Charania reported on Saturday that Durant had exposure three separate times Friday while with an employee who tested positive. They were believed to be maskless while going to the team facility for testing, home from testing and to the arena for the game. While the Nets‘ MVP candidate has continued to test negative, he will still need to go through the seven days of quarantine. 

Durant will not travel to Philadelphia for the game against the 76ers and will miss multiple games due to contact-tracing protocols, according to ESPN. The Nets will face the Pistons on the road on Tuesday before returning home to play the Pacers on Wednesday. Nets coach Steve Nash said on Saturday that Durant will rejoin the team on Friday, per Shams Charnia of The Athletic—the day before Brooklyn is set to play a road game against the Warriors.

Durant has performed at his typical elite form in his return to the court this season after missing last year while recovering from an Achilles tendon injury. Through 17 games, Durant is averaging 30.8 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.2 assists per game, leading Brooklyn in all three categories while shooting 53.3% from the floor and 45.2% on 3-point attempts. 

The Nets have won five of their past six games since Jan. 23, and currently hold the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference standings.