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Kevin Durant doesn’t blame the Golden State Warriors for torn Achilles

By Nathan Beighle

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 28: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors before the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on October 28, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matteo Marchi/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 28: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors before the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on October 28, 2018 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matteo Marchi/Getty Images) /
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Golden State Warriors former superstar Kevin Durant doesn’t blame the team for his torn Achilles which was suffered in Game 5 of the 2019 NBA Finals.

The Golden State Warriors were thought to be keeping some secrets leading up to Kevin Durant’s Achilles injury in June. The team took the blunt of the initial blame as doctors and others drew fire from media.

However, Kevin Durant recently came out and said that the Warriors didn’t mishandle the injury. He talked to Yahoo! Sports’ Chris Haynes about the rehab process and how he wasn’t pressured into returning prior to being “fully” healthy.

"“Hell, no. How can you blame [the Warriors]? Hell, no,” Durant told Yahoo Sports. “I heard the Warriors pressured me into getting back. Nobody never said a word to me during rehab as I was coming back. It was only me and [director of sports medicine and performance] Rick [Celebrini] working out every day. Right when the series started, I targeted Game 5."

Durant wanted to play.

With the Dubs down 3-1 heading into Game 5, Durant knew his dominance could’ve been the difference-maker in the series.

And, for that few minutes, he was dominant prior to tearing his Achilles, just a month or so after straining his calf, causing him to miss double-digit postseason games. Durant scored 11 points in 12 minutes.

The baller just wanted to ball after over a month rest, or so he told Haynes.

"No matter what the series was, I was aiming for Game 5,” he said. “That’s why I played when it was 3-1. No matter what, I just wanted to play in the Finals. I just wanted to hoop, especially if I could be out there. I was feeling good leading up to it."

Durant was having one of the best postseasons of his career up to the point in the Conference Semifinals when he initially injured his calf. That dominance included a 50-point performance in a close-out game to take down the LA Clippers. He had three games of 45 or more points.

Sadly, Durant came back and re-injured his lower leg in a much more serious situation. While there can be takeaways from this, the injury wasn’t foreshadowed and it would’ve been impossible to predict.

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Overall, it’s encouraging to hear him not blaming Golden State for what happened to him. Now a Net, Durant will be out all next season.

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