As the Warriors initially feared, Kevin Durant suffered a ruptured right Achilles tendon during Monday night’s win over the Raptors. Durant announced the news himself today in an Instagram post, confirming that he has already undergone surgery to repair the injury.
“My road back starts now!” Durant wrote on Instagram. “I got my family and my loved ones by my side and we truly appreciate all the messages and support people have sent our way.
“Like I said Monday, I’m hurting deeply, but I’m OK,” Durant continued. “Basketball is my biggest love and I wanted to be out there that night because that’s what I do. I wanted to help my teammates on our quest for the three-peat. It’s just the way things go in this game and I’m proud that I gave it all I physically could, and I’m proud my brothers got the W.”
Speaking today to reporters, including Ben Golliver of The Washington Post (Twitter link), Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said that Durant, agent Rich Kleiman, team doctors, and an outside specialist were all involved in the decision to clear KD to return for Game 5. According to Kerr, the club didn’t believe there was a risk of an Achilles tear, and wouldn’t have cleared Durant if that was thought to be a possibility.
“Would we go back and do it over again? Damn right,” Kerr said. “Our feeling was the worst thing he could do was re-injure the calf. The Achilles came as a complete shock.”
A ruptured Achilles tendon is one of the most serious injuries an NBA player can sustain, and there’s a good chance it will sideline Durant for most or all of the 2019/20 season. However, as we relayed on Tuesday night, that injury isn’t expected to deter KD’s suitors if and when he reaches free agency. The Warriors, Knicks, Nets, Lakers, and Clippers are still likely to pursue Durant, who may have his choice of maximum-salary offers.
Exercising his $31.5MM player option with the Warriors and putting off free agency until 2020 is another option for Durant, but with plenty of teams seemingly interested in topping that salary, that scenario is reportedly considered a “last resort.”
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Still listed as questionable for game 6.
Probably gonna not rule him out indefinitely just in case they’re down by 10 in the 4th. Might wanna bring him back again.
That joke was funny… the first 37 times I heard it.
I’m still devastated, but feel better seeing his outlook. I just hope he comes back on his time, and the results are more Dominique Wilkins-Rudy Gay than others who weren’t so lucky. Things have somehow become even more toxic online and in the media these last couple of years. I hope he gets a reprieve from that for a while
If anyone can come back…. He can…Looking forward to see him back on the court.
This is really heartbreaking.
I’m not sure how exactly, but somehow this is all Donald trump’s fault.
Definitely.
Someone with a “resist” bumper sticker and a bunch of cats will chime in and tell you why shortly.
Yeah, shortly after CNN tells them how to feel about it.
Don’t worry fox news will play the victim card on it and their cult its some liberals fault.
So can the Warriors do a sign and trade involving Kevin Durant?
If Kevin Durant wants the most money, the Warriors can offer him the most via his BIRD rights. So what if a team like the Knicks or Clippers want to take advantage of that and work with GSW on a sign and trade for KD – is that possible?
My only reference to a similar event is when CP3 signed with the Clippers so that they would get some assets from Houston when he chose them back a few years ago.
and the Warriors have the option to sign him to a Super Max, as we all know.
There was literally an article about sign and trade on this site today. Chris Paul picked up his option, so it’s not sign and trade. KD cannot get supermax from anyone.
If kd doesn’t play next year, he could sign the 5 year max with golden State, then when eligible part way into the season be traded. It would have to be to a team like the Knicks or Lakers who aren’t contenders but have valuable pieces, and are set up to contend in a year or two. It could happen.
Did you check the article on this site about sign and trade? KD is not getting the fifth year for sign and trade. So there’s no incentive for him to do sign and trade unless he really wants GSW to get assets on the expense of his new team
KD could also pick up his option for a sign and trade and do an extension with another team.
This team can clear cap space and get ahead of its competition on bringing in Durant to their team
Looks like My keeper Basketball league title is shot again. Say Hi to John Wall in the Training room.
Simple plan for the Knicks… Dump Ntilikina. Max KD.
2020 Cap
KD – 41.2
DSJ – 5.68
Knox – 4.58
RJ Barrett – 6.8
Robinson 1.66
Noah – 6.43
Cap Holds – 11.45M
Cap Figure: 78M est.
Cap Space: 40M cap space = AD
What are the Knicks giving up for AD?
Free Agency
Unless the Knicks already have AD in place, KD is not signing there. People need to get their ridiculous proposals off the table – especially those who think KD is going to sign on to play and not compete for a couple of seasons, or under the hope they pick up another star.
What makes sense for the Team, and for the fan, doesn’t always make sense for the player.
link to foxnews.com
He is done…he will never be the same again…he will take GS 5 years and supermax…because he will need to be carried from now on…I mean because Cousins has been so ‘effective’ for the warriors in these finals and all…do all the Knick fans understand that he wont be playing next year…at all…his career is as good as over.