Did the Warriors bungle Kevin Durant’s injury? “Hell no,” KD says

The end of Kevin Durant’s tenure with the Golden State Warriors wasn’t ideal. His time as a key member of the dynasty ended when he returned from a calf injury in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, only to quickly sustain an Achilles tear that not only ended his season, but threatens to keep him out for all of the upcoming year, as well.

Accompanying that injury was an arguably unfair amount of drama. Media members wondered, prior to the second injury, if Durant wasn’t giving it his all by staying sidelined. Talking heads and Twitter accounts berated Steve Kerr, Bob Myers, and the Warriors doctors for giving Durant the okay to keep playing, claiming the team was being negligent.

Durant isn’t having any of it. In an interview with Yahoo Sports’ Chris Haynes - Durant’s first interview since opting to leave the Warriors in free agency and sign with the Brooklyn Nets - the two-time Finals MVP made it clear that Golden State did nothing wrong:

“Hell, no. How can you blame [the Warriors]? Hell, no,” Durant told 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. S--- happens. Nobody was responsible for it. It was just the game. We just need to move on from that s--- because I’m going to be back playing.”

Well. That certainly settles that.

The entire interview is well worth the read, as Durant touches on media speculation, moving on from the incident with Draymond Green, where his mental state is now, and teaming up with his friend Kyrie Irving in Brookyln. It’s worth checking out.