During Game 5 of the 2019 NBA Finals, Golden State Warriors player Kelvin Durant suffered a devastating Achilles tendon injury that left him doubting his future in basketball.
Durant opened up about his post-injury turmoil in an honest interview with longtime agent and business partner Rich Kleiman for Bleacher Report’s “35 at 35” series.
That’s when Durant said, “I realized, okay, I probably won’t go back to the Bay again.” “I heard a pop in front of 20,000 people, and I thought, ‘Oh my gosh,’ and my entire basketball career just flashed before my eyes—everything I did, everything I thought about, all of my best and worst moments—all of it flashed.”
Additionally, Golden State Warriors player Kelvin Durant sustained a horrific Achilles tendon injury during Game 5 of the 2019 NBA Finals, which caused him to question his future as a basketball player.
In an open interview for Bleacher Report’s “35 at 35” series, Durant discussed his post-injury difficulties with longtime agent and business partner Rich Kleiman.
Durant then added, “I realized, okay, I probably won’t go back to the Bay again.”In front of 20,000 spectators, I heard a pop, and I immediately thought, “Oh my god,” and my whole basketball career suddenly went before my eyes—everything I did, everything I thought about, all of my high points and low points.”
But early in the second quarter, Durant stumbled while trying to drive past Serge Ibaka of the Raptors, ending his Warriors career. Even though the Warriors prevailed in that game, Klay Thompson’s injury in Game 6 ended their aspirations, and the Raptors went on to win the series 4-2 in the decisive game at Oracle Arena.
Achilles tears are notoriously difficult to heal, especially for athletes who depend on quick movements. Durant spent the entire 2019–20 season recovering after joining the Brooklyn Nets and departing the Warriors in a decision that sparked a lot of controversy.
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