Brooklyn Nets: Kevin Durant is ready to regain his throne after a long layoff

Kevin Durant is finally back and the Brooklyn Nets will be contenders in the East

A torn Achilles is the kind of debilitating injury that can affect the play and the mindset of any athlete. Just going through the pain and the rehabilitation of this excruciating injury is a burden in itself. This injury has derailed the careers of some players, but there are those that go through rigorous training and rehab to get back to where they were before the injury happened.

During Game 5 of the 2019 NBA Finals, Golden State Warriors star Kevin Durant returned to the lineup after being out an extended period of time due to a calf injury he suffered earlier in the playoffs. Down 3-1 in the series, the Warriors were counting on Durant to give them an edge in order to get back in the series while trying to avoid elimination.

Durant came out scorching hot going 3-3 from downtown while scoring 11 points, but with 9:50 left in the second quarter, Durant attempted to dribble past a defender when the unthinkable happened.

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Everyone watching hoped for the best but feared the worst as Durant hobbled to the sideline and sat down as he waited on assistance from the team trainers. The look of disappointment etched on his face said it all. A few hours after the game, it was confirmed that Durant tore his Achilles tendon and that he would be out for at least 6-12 months.

This was devastating news for both Durant and the league. While some athletes have suffered a torn Achilles and came back strong after making a full recovery, some of them just never were the same once they returned. The movement wasn’t the same and their mobility just wasn’t there.

Some players who suffered Achilles injuries lacked confidence and were afraid of reaggravating the injury, but it ultimately depends on an athlete’s body structure and body type, how they approach rehab, and their mental state of mind which will determine whether they can return to their natural form.

It was a big deal for this to happen to one of the most popular players in the NBA, especially while Durant was in the prime of his career. Plenty of fans are looking forward to Durant’s return because it just wasn’t the same without seeing him take the floor last season. Now, as a member of the Brooklyn Nets, Durant will return after sitting out an entire season as a precaution to make sure he was fully healed. So what can the fans expect to see from Durant once play resumes?

Expectations are always high for elite level players of Durant’s caliber. One thing that should help Durant is the fact that he took an entire season off to allow the injury to fully heal. While other athletes have come back way sooner and still went on to have success, Durant shouldn’t have much trouble once he gets back on the court in live-action.

He is an experienced player and has dealt with adversity before and possesses a knack for thriving under pressure. We also have to realize that just how skilled Durant is. He still has one of the most accurate and deadly jump shooters in the history of the league. Even if the injury does hamper some of his mobility to a certain extent, he can still shoot it as we have all witnessed what he can do when he catches fire. He also is joining a Nets team that made the playoffs without their superstars last season so he won’t have to bear the burden of having to carry the team by himself.

The Nets already have promising players Jarrett Allen, Joe Harris, Caris LeVert, and Spencer Dinwiddie, and now with the additions of Durant, Kyrie Irving, and DeAndre Jordan, this should make the Nets automatic contenders to win the East.

It will be a joyous occasion once Durant walks out on the Barclays Center floor and plays an actual game. Just knowing how hard he worked to get back and the struggle he endured is going to be rewarding for him and the fans alike as we anticipate the official return of the Slim Reaper.