Steve Nash gives update on when he expects Kevin Durant to return

Steve Nash said he expects Kevin Durant to return to the floor for the Nets before the All-Star break, but won't rush him back either.

Speaking on Zoom prior to Tuesday's game against the Sacramento Kings, Nash said he expects Durant to return soon from the strained hamstring injury that has kept him out of the last five games.

“Yeah, I do,” Nash said on if he expects Durant back before the break. “But again, we’re just trying to monitor and be cautious. We definitely have kind of slowed things down in that respect — not putting any pressure on him, not trying to rush him back in any capacity and just make sure that we give him the right amount of time to be more than healed, to be strong and conditioned to come back to the team.

“So we’re monitoring it. We’re not in a rush. But I don’t think he’ll be out until the All-Star break.”

After Tuesday's matchup with the Kings, the Nets have four more games before the break.

Durant was named captain of the Eastern Conference All-Star team after receiving the most votes on the coast. He's set to make selections with Western Conference All-Star team captain LeBron James on March 4.

He'll get the opportunity to select two of his teammates, Kyrie Irving and James Harden. Irving was named a starter last week, while Harden was selected as a reserve earlier Tuesday night.