OAKLAND -- Kevin Durant is feeling good enough to send his spirits soaring.
Two weeks after sustaining a bone bruise to his left tibia and spraining his medial collateral ligament, Durant said he finally is able to resume a few of the functions normally taken for granted.
"I'm just feeling good about getting back and doing normal things, like walking up and down the stairs and driving a car," he told CSNBayArea.com on Tuesday while sitting in the locker room 90 minutes before tipoff of Warriors-76ers at Oracle Arena.
Though there still is no timetable, there are signs of appreciable progress.
"Kevin was out there shooting today, on the floor," coach Steve Kerr said, referring to the team's morning shootaround. "Set shots. But that's a big step. A few days ago he was shooting from a chair and now he's standing up and taking set shots. Before long, it'll be jump shots."
Clearly encouraged by his recovery, Durant concedes he has to resist the temptation to push himself. It's his natural inclination, but while monitoring pain levels and stability, he realizes he has to find a balance between caution and determination.
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"When I get back, I want to be all the way back," he said. "I want to be able to do all the things I normally can do."
Stretched out before his cubicle, Durant also conversed on a variety of other topics, including the NCAA Tournament. (He is leaning toward Villanova.)
What was evident, though, was his sense that the worst is behind him and he is on the way back. He is scheduled for re-evaluation in two weeks. There is hope, but no assurance that he can return in time for the playoffs.
"I don't bother him or ask him how he's doing all the time," Kerr said. "I just trust the training staff to get him healthy. And we'll welcome him back when he comes back."
