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NBA: Thunder star Durant needs season-ending op

Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Kevin Durant needs more surgery on his right foot and will miss the rest of the season, the Oklahoma City Thunder said Friday. Durant, who hasn't played since February 19, will undergo a bone graft that will sideline him a further six months. The news comes a week after the Thunder said their star wasn't progressing as well as hoped after a procedure to alleviate soreness from a screw that was inserted in his foot when he had surgery to repair a fracture in October. Durant saw specialists this week who advised another operation. "While the majority of the soreness in Kevin's foot was related to continued inflammation of the cuboid bone and would subside with rest, the evaluation process also determined that the Jones fracture of the fifth metatarsal, which had shown significant healing previously, was now demonstrating signs of regression," Thunder general manager Sam Presti in a statement. The Jones fracture was the original injury that doctors repaired shortly before the season started in October. The four-time NBA scoring champion made his season debut in December and averaged 25.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists in just 27 games this campaign. Presti said the bone graft surgery would take place early next week in New York and was aimed at securing Durant's long-term fitness. "We are encouraged that the bone graft procedure has historically demonstrated long-term health and stability," Presti said.