After suffering a devastating Achilles tendon injury during Game 5 of the 2019 NBA Finals, Kevin Durant, the former star of the Golden State Warriors, faced uncertainty about his basketball future.
In a candid interview with his agent and business partner Rich Kleiman for a Bleacher Report cover story titled “35 at 35,” Durant shared the rollercoaster of emotions he experienced when he ruptured his Achilles.
Durant vividly recalled the moment of the injury, expressing how he instantly feared the worst for his career. He described the flood of memories and thoughts that rushed through his mind as he lay on the court, realizing the severity of the injury.
“That’s when I knew, I’m like, ‘Alright, I probably won’t go back to the Bay again,’ There’s 20,000 people in there and I heard a pop so I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh’ and my whole basketball career just flashed before my eyes, everything, everything I did, everything that I thought about, all my favorite moments, all my bad moments, it flashed.” : Durant said.
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Reflecting on that moment, Durant revealed the depth of his uncertainty about his future in basketball. He recounted feeling lost and unsure of his identity, as the injury cast doubt on his ability to return to the sport he loved.
The injury occurred as Durant was attempting to make a comeback from a previous calf injury, during a crucial Game 5 against the Toronto Raptors. Despite his strong start in the game, Durant’s hopes were dashed just minutes into the second quarter when he went down while driving past Raptors’ Serge Ibaka.
The injury not only ended Durant’s season but also marked a turning point for the Warriors, who ultimately lost the Finals to the Raptors. The series was marred by another devastating injury to Warriors’ star Klay Thompson in Game 6, leading to a 4-2 series victory for the Raptors.
Durant’s journey back from injury serves as a testament to his resilience and determination to overcome adversity in pursuit of his passion for basketball.
