When will Nets All-Star return to play with Ben Simmons?

After executing a blockbuster trade, the Nets have assembled a new Big Three of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and Ben Simmons.

The first step towards seeing this trio in action: Durant getting healthy.

James Harden-Ben Simmons trade: Details | Grades 

On Jan. 16, the Nets announced that an MRI revealed a sprained medial collateral ligament (MCL) of Durant’s left knee, giving him a timeline of four-to-six weeks of rehab and recovery.

When will Durant return? Here’s the latest on what we know about his injury.

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What is Kevin Durant’s injury?

Durant has a sprained MCL in his left knee.

The severity of Durant’s knee injury was not disclosed but in 2017, he suffered a Graded 2 sprained MCL and was sidelined for 19 games.

How long will Kevin Durant be out?

On Jan. 16, the Nets gave Durant a recovery and rehab timeline of four-to-six weeks.

At the Feb. 10 trade deadline, Durant was midway through week four of the timeline and still listed as out with a left MCL sprain on official injury reports.

Weeks earlier, Yahoo’s Chris Haynes reported that Durant planned on sitting out of the 2022 NBA All-Star Game on Feb. 20, which comes five weeks to the date of the Nets’ initial diagnosis.

Sources: My @NBAonTNT report on Brooklyn Nets star Kevin Durant expected to sit out the All-Star Game next month in Cleveland. pic.twitter.com/AXKJg7MzSd

— Chris Haynes (@ChrisBHaynes) January 26, 2022

When will Kevin Durant return to the Nets lineup?

With Durant planning to remain sidelined through All-Star Weekend, it is fair to assume he and the Nets are targeting a date after the break.

Brooklyn begins the season’s stretch run against the Boston Celtics on Feb. 24, a date that falls five and a half weeks after the franchise’s given timeline.

Should Durant’s rehab process line up with the six-week timeline, his return could come when the Nets host the Raptors on Monday, Feb. 28.

Nets schedule 2021-22

The Nets have five games scheduled between the trade deadline and the All-Star break. Brooklyn will play 23 games after the break.

Date	Opponent	Time	National TV
Feb. 10	at Wizards	7:30 p.m.	TNT
Feb. 12	at Heat	8:00 p.m.	–
Feb. 14	vs. Kings	7:30 p.m.	–
Feb. 16	at Knicks	7:30 p.m.	ESPN
Feb. 17	vs. Wizards	7:30 p.m.	–
Feb. 24	vs. Celtics	7:30 p.m.	TNT
Feb. 26	at Bucks	8:30 p.m.	ABC
Feb. 28	vs. Raptors	7:30 p.m.	–
March 1	at Raptors	7:30 p.m.	–
March 3	vs. Heat	7:30 p.m.	TNT
March 6	at Celtics	1:00 p.m.	ABC
March 8	at Hornets	7:00 p.m.	–
March 10	at 76ers	7:30 p.m.	TNT