Season stats: 2025-26. Updated 6 h ago.
Kevin Durant's Ankle Is the Story as Rockets Wait on Year Two
newsroom · 2 h agoKevin Durant heads into the 2026-27 season on the Houston Rockets' injury report, listed day-to-day with a left ankle issue and an estimated return date of October 1, 2026. He is coming off a strong first season in Houston, when he averaged 26.0 points a game, and at 37 he is starting his 19th year in the league.
Durant's Spot on the Roster
Kevin Durant wears No. 7 for the Rockets and lines up at forward. He is listed at 6-11, 240 pounds, and turns 37 this season, his 19th in the NBA. Durant came into the league out of Texas and remains one of the most experienced players on Houston's roster. He arrived in Houston last season, and the front office built around him as a frontcourt piece next to the rest of the roster. Now he opens 2026-27 as a veteran anchor for the Rockets rather than a new addition, with a full season in the building already behind him. His size and position give Houston a scoring option at forward as the team heads into training camp.
What Durant Did in His First Season in Houston
Last season, Durant played 78 games for Houston and averaged 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 36.4 minutes a night. He shot 52.0 percent from the field, 41.3 percent from three, and 87.4 percent from the line, with a true shooting mark of 64.1 percent. He also posted 0.8 steals, 0.9 blocks and 3.2 turnovers per game, with a 26.3 usage rate and a plus-4.4 on-off mark. Those numbers came in his first year wearing a Rockets uniform after his team was listed as Houston for 2025-26. It was a full, productive season that put him in the middle of Houston's offense from the jump.
The Ankle Injury Heading Into Camp
Durant is currently day-to-day with a left ankle and leg injury, with an estimated return date of October 1, 2026. The injury report notes that Durant, dealing with the ankle issue, averaged 26.0 points a game in his first season with Houston and continued to build his career scoring resume, moving into the top five on the NBA's all-time list for 30-point games. As of September 6, 2026, the ankle is the only injury listed for him. With the estimated return date lining up close to the start of the season, Houston will be watching this situation closely in the final weeks before the opener.
A Look Back at Last Year's Opener
The only game logged from last season shows Durant's season opener on October 21, 2025, against Oklahoma City, a loss for Houston. Durant played 47.0 minutes that night and put up 23 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists, with a plus-minus of 0.0. That workload, nearly a full 48 minutes, shows how heavily Houston leaned on him right out of the gate last season. It's the clearest snapshot available of what Durant looked like in his first game in a Rockets uniform, and it sets a baseline for what a healthy, full-minutes Durant brings on opening night.
What's Next for Houston
With the 2026-27 season approaching and Durant's ankle listed as day-to-day with an estimated return of October 1, 2026, the opener is coming into view. There is no update yet beyond the September 6, 2026 injury report, and no trade rumors or additional roster moves tied to Durant to report. The clearest picture of Houston's plan is last season's version of Durant: a 78-game, 26.0-point-per-game season that anchored the offense. The question now is simply whether the ankle clears in time for him to be full strength when the games start counting again.
Questions fans ask
What is Kevin Durant's injury status right now?
Durant is day-to-day with a left ankle and leg injury, with an estimated return date of October 1, 2026.
What team does Kevin Durant play for?
Durant plays for the Houston Rockets, wearing No. 7 at forward.
What were Kevin Durant's stats last season?
In 2025-26, his first season with Houston, Durant averaged 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists over 78 games, shooting 52.0 percent from the field and 41.3 percent from three.
Will Kevin Durant be ready for the start of the 2026-27 season?
His estimated return date is October 1, 2026, close to the start of the season, but his status is listed as day-to-day as of September 6, 2026.
How many seasons has Kevin Durant played in the NBA?
The 2026-27 season is his 19th in the league. He is 37 years old and came out of Texas.
Are there any trade rumors involving Kevin Durant right now?
No, there are no trade rumors reported for Durant at this time.
Game log
last 1| Date | Opp | Result | Min | Pts | Reb | Ast | FG | 3P | +/- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue, Oct 21 | at OKC | L 124-125 | 47 | 23 | 9 | 3 | 9-16 | 0-4 | 0 |