Warriors not to blame for injury, Durant says

Kevin Durant says the Golden State Warriors aren’t responsible for the Achilles injury that likely will force him to sit out the 201920 season.

“Hell, no. How can you blame (the Warriors)? Hell, no,” Durant told Yahoo Sports in his first interview since suffering the injury in Game 5 of the NBA Finals in June against the eventual champion Toronto Raptors.

Durant returned to the court for Game 5 after missing nine straight post-season games with a right calf strain.

“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 (trainer) Rick (Celebrini) working out every day.

“Right when the series started, I targeted Game 5. Hell, nah. It just happened.”

However, he had this to say about Raptors fans initially cheering after his injury: “It will probably be the last time they will be in the finals.”

Durant has moved on from the Warriors, signing a four-year, US$164-million contract to play for the Brooklyn Nets when he returns. He spent three seasons with the Warriors, winning two NBA championships.

Durant, who turns 31 in September, said he watched most of the rest of Game 5 on television.

“Yeah, I still think about that night,” Durant said.

“Every experience I’ve been through in the league is obviously always ingrained in my mind, but that one is definitely always going to be a huge part of my career because it’s the biggest stage and the type of injury I had. But now I look at it as me just going out there playing basketball, and I happened to get hurt. And now I’m just waiting to get back.

“I know it’s a huge deal to everybody else, but I just try to take it on the chin and keep it moving.”