Ankle sprain from Dec. may have contributed to Durant's lost season

Blame Mo Speights.

Back on Dec. 18, just Kevin Durant's ninth game back after missing the first 17 games of the season following surgery to repair a Jones fracture in his right foot, Speights took a charge from the reigning MVP. Durant collided hard with the thick Golden State Warriors forward, stepping on his foot and spraining his right ankle in the process.

Durant would subsequently miss six games with the sprain, but there's a good chance that injury contributed to Durant ultimately being shut down for the season.

According to ESPN injury expert Stephania Bell, the compromising of the lateral ankle stability could have caused additional stress on the outer forefoot. Ankle strengthening and support are parts of the program to prevent a recurrence of the injury, and so Durant's sprain leading to additional discomfort down the line would not be surprising.

Because the fracture of the fifth metatarsal in Durant's right foot had regressed, the Oklahoma City Thunder superstar underwent a March 31 bone graft that will sideline him until 2015-16.

There's little sense looking back in hindsight now, but Thunder fans can at least point to Speights in the opening round of the playoffs if they need an outlet for their tough-luck vitriol.