Kevin Durant Achilles Injury Mega-Thread (Keep discussion here, please)

[Guest202]

Didnt Cousins have this?

He did and right now he looks terrible, no lift. However, it's been barely a year since it happened to him, so hopefully he'll get better with a pre-season and training camp. But, as injuries go it's the Krypotonite for NBA players.

Cousins also tore is quad a month ago and is 300 lbs and out of shape. He shouldn't even be playing but rushed back to get a chance in the Finals. Before he tore his quad, Cousins had flashes of his former all-star ability with a string of great performances with the Warriors but has never really looked in great shape. Needs to spend the summer losing weight and getting fit. He should be able to come back strong wherever he ends up if he puts the effort in.

Cousins rushed back...Looney rushed back...KD rushed back. Picking up the GSW pattern? KD's lawyers will have fun with the discovery phase of their lawsuit. They'll prob uncover a GSW PR apparatus that was used to plant stories in an effort to pressure KD to come back.

[sikma42]

This was my thought. It all seemed either fake or just overdramatic. Seems like a sheltered little rich kid that made a huge mistake and is crying for sympathy.

With all due respect, why is everyone acting like Durant is going to die? Hes only 30. Havent numerous athletes come back from this injury? Durant has lived a fantastic life, and is only 30, hes not dying. Hes going to play ball and continue his career.

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[alebaba]

With all due respect, why is everyone acting like Durant is going to die? Hes only 30. Havent numerous athletes come back from this injury? Durant has lived a fantastic life, and is only 30, hes not dieing. Hes going to play ball and continue his career.

Literally zero. He'll go from top 3 in the world...to maybe top 50?

Dominique Wilkins ruptured his Achilles and then averaged 30 the next year.

However, this is the only exception I know.

Almost every athlete becomes a shell of their former self.

Durant is also 7 foot tall.

[vxmike]

Why are people acting like teams won't still throw a 4 year max at him? He doesn't need to opt in.

Doubtful. Nobody comes back strong from an Achilles. Not even prime Lebron or MJ would be worth a Max after it.

[shangrila]

You sound overly sensitive. Maybe take the night off, come back in the morning?

[TheNewEra]

With all due respect, why is everyone acting like Durant is going to die? Hes only 30. Havent numerous athletes come back from this injury? Durant has lived a fantastic life, and is only 30, hes not dying. Hes going to play ball and continue his career.

He tore it in the finals. It’s usually a year just to get back on the court and some months there after to get body right. This injury can put him on the shelf for nearly two years

[Matty]

This is my take on it as a Raptors fan

He definitely would have made a difference in this series. I don't want to say GS would have won for sure but they were the favorites and were basically guaranteed an L tonight without the minutes he played.

Last 2 years, and especially last year, I don't think GS needed him to beat Cleveland, but in hindsight do they win a title if KD is not in the picture but on a different team that is stacked? people don't think about it this way but KD probably would have had at least a chip by now if he was on a different contender, like the Raptors, Wizards, or Blazers for example.

A chip for him was inevitable but going to the Warriors white washed the last 2 seasons.

I'll say it for you then: The Warriors would have absolutely won this series if he played.

You can say what you want but I thought we matched up pretty evenly during the 1st quarter. They had 2 of their best players shooting lights out and they were only up by 6.

We spanked them without KD so I imagine this series would have went the distance with both sides feeling confident about winning game 7.

[whatever_]

This has to be one the most irresponsible things ever done by an NBA team. Stupidity at its best

[alebaba]

Why are people acting like teams won't still throw a 4 year max at him? He doesn't need to opt in.

Doubtful. Nobody comes back strong from an Achilles. Not even prime Lebron or MJ would be worth a Max after it.

4 years max would be a death wish for any team. I think Warriors are going to end up giving him the max since he tore his achilles playing for the Warriors.

[sikma42]

The question comes down to what the doctors told KD? If they said it couldn't get worse, as Kerr said, then there could be an issue.

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[TheNewEra]

Didnt Cousins have this?

He did and right now he looks terrible, no lift. However, it's been barely a year since it happened to him, so hopefully he'll get better with a pre-season and training camp. But, as injuries go it's the Krypotonite for NBA players.

Just scary thinking how a non contact injury like this can destroy a player’s career. Gonna be weird not seeing Durant dominate while in his prime years. I wonder at this point does GSW even want to sign him to a long term max deal.

Will hurt them not having him there for a year and a half. If you are the Knicks you max out KD and continue to tank.

[poomaster]

Brutal, the pressure for him to play must have been enormous and Kerr and the Warriors don't escape the responsibility of protecting a player from his own dumb decisions putting his health at risk. That's what players do, try to play through injuries. This may have ended KD's prime as a superstar in this league.

[BayArea408415]

Cousins rushed back...Looney rushed back...KD rushed back. Picking up the GSW pattern? KD's lawyers will have fun with the discovery phase of their lawsuit. They'll prob uncover a GSW PR apparatus that was used to plant stories in an effort to pressure KD to come back.

Cousins was initially ruled out for the entire playoffs by the medical team. He's the one who put the work in to get a chance at returning. The Looney diagnosis was initially a collarbone injury but it was later changed to an injury to his ribs and he was cleared to play based on his own willingness and pain tolerance.

I can't speak to the Durant situation but I'll wait to let the story unfold before throwing theories about potential lawsuits.

[DonaldSanders]

No, this playoffs has validated everything I have believed since he joined:

1. Warriors are the Curry show, he is their best player

2. Warriors, without Durant, are an "every other year" type of champion

3. Warriors, with Durant, are an "every year" type of champion, so he does make them a lot better

4. His time in GS has basically been low hanging fruit. A 1st tier player who only needs to perform at the level of a 3rd tier player for his team to win it all.

This guy has a really complicated situation boiled down to simple points. I wish there was an "and 10"

The only thing I'd add is that KD has a lot more heart than people give him credit for. He apparently put his career on the line for us tonight. Maximum respect, whatever his choice is when the season ends.

I've said this for years. The Warriors without KD were a paper champion.

If you are saying this about the Warriors then you have *got* to agree about the Raptors if they win this year.
I don't do the asterisk stuff personally, but I'd be curious if you are actually consistent.

[ElodyTamTam]

What legacy? He joined a super stacked team.

[TimRobbins]

Do the Warriors sign him now to a discounted 5-year deal? That would make the most sense.

[nfmos]

You guys are so ridiculous and petty and im sure some are jealous and just try to hate on anything related to the Warriors.

And still talking crap about the light years comment when we have made 5 finals in a row, won 3 out of the last 4 championships, have created a team that everyone seems to say is so good it destroyed competition and was unfair for the league. And then our ownership is privately funding a billion dollar arena? Who else has done those things?

And Bob Meyers? This guy is a good guy, a former agent who the players love. If you hear him talk you realize the humanity this guy has, and honestly so much of our team stresses how real life is more important that basketball, Kerr, Curry, Meyers, Klay, etc..

Meyers was there for Kerr when he was fighting through his back injury and always talked about his health before his coaching. This guy organizes a yearly trip to San Quentin prison to play basketball against the inmates and remind them people havent forgotten about them even with their histories. Even brought the championship trophy there.

This guy is a good guy, but people cant let go of rivalries and pettiness for even a minute to even see that. Pretty pathetic.

Just because someones/organization worldview aligns with yours doesn't make them good people and it easy to say the right things because words don't cost you anything.

It's much harder to do the right thing when you are down 3-1 in a championship game and doing so might lose you the championship. Does anyone think had the series been tied or the Warriors ahead he would have played?

Meyers clearly threw out an injured Looney. He rushed back Cousins. He rushed back Durant. He is not a good person and is messing with these guys careers.

"clearly" rushed them back??? How the heck do you know that? So these grown adults don't have brains to make their own decisions, or that the Warriors are paying doctors to give them false info? How do you know that Meyers is the one who was "pushing" these guys to play? Did he hold Klay back or play him too quick, since some people on here were also criticizing the Warriors for being too cautious? Do the players have any say in when they get to play or how they feel?

[ken6199]

We want the truth.

[His Airness 23]

It’s going to be tough now not watching Kevin Durant team up with 3 other All-Stars to beat regular NBA teams. 4 All-Stars beating other teams with 1-2 All-Stars, my God, how did Durant ever pull off such a great and successful career?

We can’t ever question Durant’s heart? WTF? He got hurt playing for the team he couldn’t beat

[nfmos]

You guys are so ridiculous and petty and im sure some are jealous and just try to hate on anything related to the Warriors.

And still talking crap about the light years comment when we have made 5 finals in a row, won 3 out of the last 4 championships, have created a team that everyone seems to say is so good it destroyed competition and was unfair for the league. And then our ownership is privately funding a billion dollar arena? Who else has done those things?

And Bob Meyers? This guy is a good guy, a former agent who the players love. If you hear him talk you realize the humanity this guy has, and honestly so much of our team stresses how real life is more important that basketball, Kerr, Curry, Meyers, Klay, etc..

Meyers was there for Kerr when he was fighting through his back injury and always talked about his health before his coaching. This guy organizes a yearly trip to San Quentin prison to play basketball against the inmates and remind them people havent forgotten about them even with their histories. Even brought the championship trophy there.

This guy is a good guy, but people cant let go of rivalries and pettiness for even a minute to even see that. Pretty pathetic.

"Good guy" or not, anyone can f*** up.

Yes and he is saying that people can blame him for that, and im sure in hindsight he would probably do whatever he could to prevent KD from playing even if KD was begging. He and the organization f'd up.

But for people to say that he is faking tears, thats just pathetic.