Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving hurt his knee in Game 2 of the NBA Finals this past June. He hasn't played since.
But that's likely to end on Thursday night, when the Thunder head to Cleveland for nationally televised showdown with the Cavs.
Irving has been cleared for full contact in recent days and is set to make his season debut as long as he passes the team's pregame medical tests, according to a report by ESPN.
It adds another subplot to an already interesting game, pitting LeBron James against Kevin Durant, Irving against Russell Westbrook and the surging Thunder against the dangerous Cavaliers.