One of the newest members of the Brooklyn Nets, Durant hasn’t spoken publicly since his departure from the Golden State Warriors this summer. In fact, he hasn’t spoken since rupturing his right Achilles tendon in Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors.
The injury and its aftermath were heavily scrutinized and the Warriors were criticized for allowing the 10-time All-Star to return from a Grade 2 right calf strain he sustained in Golden State’s second-round series with the Houston Rockets.
“I know you didn’t come over here for nothing,” Durant says. “I’ll give you something.”
So we got straight to it. Did the Warriors mishandle the injury?
Durant slowly straightened up with a perplexed expression on his face.
“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. Hell, nah. It just happened. It’s basketball. S--- happens. Nobody was responsible for it. It was just the game. We just need to move on from that s--- because I’m going to be back playing.”
I’m really glad Durant feels this way, and also that he came out and said this.
There have been some obnoxious narratives and takes circulating around his injury on social media, RealGM, Reddit etc.