Kevin Durant has quitted the coming NBA All-Star Game that will take place at State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia on March 7, announced the Brooklyn Nets on Friday.

Durant suffered a left hamstring strain earlier this month. After he underwent a follow-up MRI, coach Steve Nash said more patience is required before the 32-year-old comes back healthy.

"I just think the second round of imaging when there was less bleeding, it was more clear to just be cautious. We'll monitor him appropriately and make sure we get him back playing at the level he was playing at when he went out," said Nash.

"Part of it is Mother Nature, and just figuring out the course of rehab and then ramping him back up when he is healthy enough so that he doesn't come back prematurely."

Durant will be re-evaluated after the All-Star break. He has missed nine of the Nets' last 10 games. The team's Big 3, Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving so far have only been seen together on the court seven times.

"It obviously sucks not having Kevin on the floor with us, but with that being said, we want him to be able to be 100-percent sure that he's able to be out there and be healthy," said Nets' center DeAndre Jordan.

The Nets have three games left before the All-Star break – against the Dallas Mavericks at home plus two on the road with the San Antonio Spurs and the Houston Rockets. Durant may miss all of them, according to ESPN.

Though he rested for more than a year to recover from torn Achilles tendon, he has averaged 29 points, 7.3 rebounds and 5.3 assists, which is definitely MVP-level performance. No wonder he won the second-most All-Star votes only after LeBron James. So far, the league has not decided whether Durant will still be the captain of Team Kevin.

"He's disappointed, clearly. He got himself through one of the most devastating injuries in basketball and playing at an All-Star level or even MVP level, and for it to kind of get shut down for a little while is very disappointing for him. Having said that, it could always be worse. So we'll continue to monitor him and he's going to be back this season, and we'll all be grateful when that time comes, but not until he's ready," said Nash.

Since there is an available spot, there should be a replacement to fill it. Domantas Sabonis of the Indiana Pacers entered the reserves. The 24-year-old big man made his All-Star debut last season and could score 21.6 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 5.6 assists per game this season.

Jayson Tatum of the Boston Celtics will take Durant's spot in the starting rosters.