Kevin Durant left Game 5 of the NBA Finals with Achilles injury that could rattle the NBA for years to come
Despite the Golden State Warriors‘ exciting comeback in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, Kevin Durant suffered an Achilles injury that could have repurcusions around the NBA world for years to come.
Durant will undergo an MRI Tuesday, which is expected to confirm his injury.
In Game 5, the Warriors played Durant 11 of the first 14 minutes of the game. In those 11 minutes, he scored 11 points and was perfect from 3-point range. Without KD’s 11 points, the Warriors would have lost Game 5. There’s no question that KD’s return gave the Warriors a breath of fresh air.
However, at what cost?
Despite being medically cleared for Game 5, nobody really knew how healthy KD was before he entered the game. If the Warriors had not been down 3-1 in the NBA Finals, would the Warriors’ medical staff have cleared him? Nobody knows.
Even with all the things @KDTrey5 has done. This is the most fan(ed) out I’ve been. He knew he wasn’t right but he wanted to be there for his brothers. That’s sports! That’s love!
— DWade (@DwyaneWade) June 11, 2019
I have never had so many mixed emotions after a basketball game as I did after watching Game 5. KD is such a great player, and seeing an athlete like him going down is disheartening. KD is maybe the greatest offensive force the NBA has ever seen. A true 7-footer with shooting guard skills and with one of the greatest jump-shots of all-time is beyond rare.
Bob Myers is visibly upset as he announces Kevin Durant has an Achilles injury pic.twitter.com/DUM8V8awts
— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) June 11, 2019
It’s fair to question if the Warriors organization appropriately handled Durant’s injury. According to Marc Spears, KD was doing two-a-day workouts to prepare for his return in Game 5.
However, playing Durant in Game 5 and potentially risking KD’s fate for next season and compromising his career was too large of a gamble. Derrick Rose never really recovered from tearing his ACL, and KD may not recover from this injury either.
Worst for the Warriors, if the Raptors win one of the next two games, then KD would have “died in vain.” Along with maybe the NBA.
Game 5 is over, and KD could have to bear the cost of Achilles injury the for rest of his career. Shame on the Warriors, if they let KD play knowing that he was not 100 percent healthy. If the Warriors lamented about not having KD for the NBA Finals, wait till they miss him for the rest of next season.
For Game 5, the Raptors were lulled into complacency when KD went out of the game and ultimately lost the game for this reason. Toronto ultimately blew a six-point lead with a hair over three mintes remaning in the game.
The fate of the Warriors dynasty has been in flux all season because of the thought that KD might be leaving during free agency. KD’s injury has the potential to change the landscape of the NBA for years to come.
The injury to KD could change the plans of the New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers this summer alone. The future of the NBA has potentially been changed. However, any team will give Kevin Durant a max contract regardless of his injury status.
Despite winning Game 5, the Warriors lost a true “Warrior,” and the NBA may have lost its best player for the foreseeable future.