Kevin Durant expressed sympathy when asked about Greg Oden's recent season-ending injury.

Durant was asked the media if he feels as though Oden had been playing in his shadow.

?Those guys are a playoff team and are one of the top teams in the West,?  Durant said. ?Without him they wouldn?t be there. So I guess I?m living in his shadow. He was the No. 1 pick. I was the No. 2. And his team is doing better. I?m just trying to fight toward that with my team. So I wouldn?t say he?s in my shadow.?

Durant said he believes Oden will bounce back from this injury much like he did when recovering from the microfracture surgery that caused him to miss the entire 2007-08 season.

?The last injury he came back and was stronger,? Durant said. ?He was playing well, and I know for a fact that if everything works out and his knee gets better and he continues to rehab and everything he?s going to come back better. He?s going to come back with a chip on his shoulder and he?s going to be tough on a lot of defenders.?