Kevin Durant says Warriors aren’t to blame for his injury
Contrary to many reports, Kevin Durant doesn’t place any blame whatsoever on the Warriors for his devastating ruptured Achilles tendon injury during the NBA finals, he told Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes.
Speaking publicly for the first time since leaving the Warriors to sign a four-year, free-agent deal with the Brooklyn Nets over a month ago, Durant was adamant Golden State did nothing to contribute to his devastating injury.
“Hell, no. How can you blame (the Warriors)? Hell, no,” Durant said in an exclusive interview with 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. (Expletive) happens.
“Nobody was responsible for it. It was just the game. We just need to move on from that (expletive) because I’m going to be back playing.”
The Warriors, though, couldn’t move on from Durant’s Game 5 injury as they ultimately lost their two-year hold on the NBA title when the Raptors beat them in Game 6 in Oakland.
Durant’s post-season injury troubles began in Game 5 of the Western Conference semifinals against the Rockets when he suffered a right calf strain. He wound up missing all four games of the Warriors’ sweep of the Trail Blazers in the conference finals as well as the first four games of the NBA finals.
“I was feeling good leading up to it. I was working out every day. I was gradually getting back to myself doing the two-a-days. I was really locked in on my game and trying to get back.”
Addressing the reaction of Raptors fans to his injury, Durant claimed he didn’t remember hearing anyone celebrate his misfortune, but he said of the Raptors: “It will probably be the last time they will be in the Finals.”
After the disappointing end to his and the Warriors’ season, Durant had to quickly decide his future. Despite season-long reports that Durant was already out the door with the Warriors, he insisted his decision to join the Nets didn’t come about until the day NBA free agency began on June 30.
“I never wanted to disrespect the game by putting my focus on the future,” Durant said. “It was always about that day, focusing on that day and what was most important that day. And throughout the season, basketball is the No. 1 thing.”
Durant also insisted his freeagency decision was always going to come down to just two teams, neither of them were the Knicks.
“If I was leaving the Warriors, it was always going to be for the Nets. They got the pieces and a creative front office. I just like what they were building.”