The most recent news surrounding one of the NBA's greatest players is disappointing.

Sunday, October 12, The Oklahoma City Thunder announced that their most prized asset, superstar forward Kevin Durant, the reigning MVP of the league has suffered what is known to be a Jones fracture in his right foot.

Ouch!

According to CBSsports.com, the injury usually requires surgery which could alter the plans of Durant and Co. and puts the hopes and dreams of a title chase on reserve until he returns to the hardwood.

This injury will sideline Durant for 6-8 weeks, definitely missing the start of the 2014-15 NBA season.

On October 21, Durant held a press conference and said all the right things because rarely does he not. "..It was unexpected, but going through so much in my life, it's another bump in the road that I knew I had to get pass," Durant said during his press conference.

He also expressed that he wanted to take the best route with this injury because he has never been injured before and elected to have surgery influenced by his doctors who have his best interest.

It is understood that Durant will miss time on court right?

Agreed.

What does that mean for the Thunder and the remaining roster? It obviously provides more shots for the players who aren't accustomed to scoring on a consistent basis while adding more shot attempts for the players that Durant plays alongside of in the starting lineup.

It also means that a particular someone on this Thunder roster will have an enhanced role once the ball tips-off on this NBA season.

It means that the Thunder will have to keep the ship afloat in Durant's absence. Without a doubt, it means being fortunate to witness the Russell Westbrook show.

Now of course Westbrook would like to begin the year with his partner in crime; it's the only life he knows. For the majority of his career he hasn't spent much time playing without Durant opposed to Durant and his individual career experiences thus far.

In the first round of the 2012-13 NBA Playoffs against the no. 8 seed - the Houston Rockets, the then no.1 seeded Thunder witnessed Westbrook injure his knee courtesy of Rockets guard Patrick Beverley, who collided with Westbrook on a steal attempt.

That injury, a day later revealed itself as a slight tear in his right meniscus, which required surgery eliminating his participation for the remainder of the 2012-13 playoffs.

Fast-forward to last season.

Prior to the beginning of the 2013-14 NBA season, Westbrook underwent a second surgery on his right knee.

Reports surfaced that Westbrook would miss the first two weeks of the season and in reality only missed the first two games.

Following the Christmas holiday, Westbrook elected to undergo arthroscopic surgery on the same right knee, delaying his return to the court until after the All-Star break.

In Westbrook's absence, the Thunder ascended behind the remarkable production of Durant who did more than hold down the fort, he won the MVP award.

The "Durantula" endured 2/3 of a playoffs series, a playoff series and a portion of a season without Westbrook's assistance.

Now it's Westbrook's turn.

It's going to be interesting to see if the Thunder and it's coaching staff improve the offensive flow in applying more creativity in the offense, involving more players than the playing off the "Durant-Westbrook Isolation" strategy.

That means you Scott Brooks, the Thunder's Head Coach.

It is going to be interesting to observe how Westbrook manages without his best pal. How will he own the responsibility of the franchises direction in Durant's medical leave.

It's interesting because Westbrook is the type of player with the mentality who welcomes this challenge. He wants this task.

He will not run from it, he embraces it.

This is the same player who although acknowledges that this is Durant's team, views himself as the no.1 primary option.

That's why we love Westbrook.

The 2010-14 "Big Three" of the Miami Heat featuring Lebron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh all knew their roles.

Wade and Bosh sacrificed their individual production because they were aware of who they were playing alongside.

It was LeBron's team and we all knew that.

When I watch Westbrook play, I do not see someone who is interested in deferring to the greatness of Durant, even though certain situations arise in which he should do so.

I see someone who goes after it to a fault. Someone who wants it so bad that you cannot blame him when he makes a mistake; you have to accept it.

You can't question Westbrook's heart, desire or motive, which is why it will be interesting to see how Westbrook, a 3-time All-star fares in the time Durant will miss.

In addition to the All-Star appearances, Westbrook has been selected to three All-NBA second teams, years 2011-13.

At the age of 25, Westbrook holds career averages of 20.1 points per game, 6.9 assists and 4.9 rebounds. Westbrook is a top-ten NBA talent because he won't settle for anything less.

He would probably say he is the best player in the league to which you can obviously present an argument despite the fact that you would understand where he is coming from.

So the main and primary question for the Thunder is: can Westbrook provide stability for the Thunder in the ultra-competitive Western Conference while Durant recovers?

This is why we, NBA journalists and enthusiasts love the NBA.

Its not just about the players, but the story-lines and obstacles that some of the greatest players in this league will have to confront in their careers from time to time.

Translation: Must-see TV.

As soon as Wednesday October 29, at the Portland Trailblazers, the Thunder will be must-see TV.

It was 2007 when Taylor Townsend was sitting in the nosebleeds watching Serena and Venus Williams play a night match at Arthur Ashe Stadium. Fast-forward to 2014 where Townsend earned a huge seat upgrade, not simply in the front row, but on the court, as the opponent of the No. 1 seed, Serena Williams, at the same stadium for the opening-round match of her US Open debut.

When Townsend found out about the news she didn't believe it.

"I found out on Twitter," she said. "Okay, let me double-check. It was true. So then I was just immediately really excited. I just thought that it was a huge opportunity."

Townsend turned professional at the end of the 2012 season after achieving the world No. 1-ranking as a junior, the first American girl to do so in 30 years. She made her Grand Slam debut earlier this year at Roland Garros as a wild card and advanced to the third round.

Townsend winning 2012 Australian Open girls’ singles title. Photo: Shuji Kajiyama/Associated Press

In lieu of the 18-year old Townsend's success, she looks up to Serena as she is one of the main reasons why Townsend is present in the tennis world.

"I mean, Serena's an African-American woman from Compton, California who won [now 18] Grand Slam titles. Like, who would have thought? Anything is possible. She's paved the way for me and not only African-American girls but girls in general, people in general, [she] just has changed the game of tennis. I think I've just learned from her story that anything is possible."

Their friendship blossomed last year at the Fed Cup in Delray Beach, Florida, when she talked to Serena and Venus Williams during a rain delay. Surprisingly they didn't talk about tennis, just casual girl-talk about hair and nails. Then later in Charleston, South Carolina, they chatted again for more than an hour and capped it off with selfies at the players' party.

Taylor Townsend’s selfie with Serena and Venus Williams

Williams was just as excited to play Townsend for the opening draw match.

"We're really good friends. We always talk and always text each other. It's going to be a really tough match for me." Serena continued,"she's such a great player. [She's] extremely young. I have been able to see her play a little bit. She does everything really, really well."

Entering the match, they both won in the nail department. Townsend wore a gel manicure with deep, hot pink polish with blue tips. Williams rocked pastel pink nail polish with crystal, pink and black leopard-prints her middle nails. But only one could win the tennis match, which was Serena 6-3, 6-1 who moved on to win her first 1st Grand Slam title of 2014.

American professional tennis player, Taylor Townsend  Photo Credit: Getty Images

Legendary American professional tennis player, Serena Williams, rocking pale pink manicure. Photo Credits: Getty Images (right) and AP (left)

Although Townsend lost the match she didn't let it get to her negatively. She was honored to face her idol and was all smiles.

"I just tried to go out on the court and really have a good time, embrace the moment, embrace the crowd and just use it. I did the best that I could."

The match helped put in perspective that she's doing all the right things - her serve can be a weapon and she can be a threat in the pro circuit with her style of play.
Serena also applauded Taylor and referred to her as the "Future of Tennis." Williams continued to speak positively of Townsend.

"She's a lefty. I always wanted to be lefty," she said smiling with envy. Why does Serena envy lefties? "That just in general puts you on a whole new level as a player. She's a very aggressive player. She comes to the net, she makes her shots. You don't really see that in tennis so much. You see players that, you know, stay aback and hug the baselines, as I do. But it's good, refreshing, and I think it's the future of tennis just by doing what she does."

Just how Townsend is inspired by Serena's story, Taylor is creating a story of her own for the current and future generations of tennis.

"I've always said that I wanted to use my tennis to inspire and help people. I want to continue [to be an inspiration and role model] as I progress in the pros and get better just because if we have these gifts and talents [and] we don't use it to help try to make a difference, then it really doesn't matter."

Taylor Townsend with kids before the 2013 New Haven Open Tennis Tournament at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Photo Credit: Bill Weiss/New Haven Open

As Townsend said, "anything is possible." It took her seven years to earn her huge seat upgrade, which she saw as unfathomable at the time.

Townsend serves as a refreshing reminder that one can achieve their dreams with hard work and dedication.