The Unrelenting Burn: Kevin Durant’s Journey Back to the Court
By Kosport Magazine
Kevin Durant heard the pop in his right leg over the roar of nearly 20,000 fans inside Scotiabank Arena in Toronto. Then he collapsed to the floor, holding his leg, pinching his heel.
It was the second quarter of Game 5 of the 2019 NBA Finals. As Durant sat there, a member of the Golden State Warriors, memories from his basketball career flashed before his eyes. Fearing the end of his career, or one that seemed recognizable, he gazed around the court and into the crowd, trying to soak up a final moment.
When he was helped to the locker room, Durant’s foot didn’t feel fully attached. Then, a doctor performed what’s known as a Thompson Test to determine the integrity of the Achilles tendon, an essential band of tissue that helps connect calf muscles to the heel. Patients lie face down, with their feet hanging off the edge of a table or a bed, and a doctor squeezes the calf to see if the foot moves. If it doesn’t, then that tendon is likely torn.
Inside the room, the doctor squeezed Durant’s right calf — nothing moved. The doctor looked around at other specialists, at nearby Warriors officials who looked on. The room fell silent. Doubt soon crept in. “This is career-ending, I’m done,” Durant recalled thinking. Even if he came back, maybe he’d only average 15 points a game, maybe a few more — maybe.
“That’s what I was thinking,” he told Kosport Magazine, “because that’s all I was hearing, that this s— is over.”
The events of five years ago still serve as a flashbulb memory for Durant. He remembers them vividly.
The Road to Recovery
What followed in the weeks, months and years ahead — a series of tedious milestones, starting with learning to walk again, learning to run again, learning to jump again — represent an unheralded aspect of Durant’s Hall of Fame career: an unrelenting burn to return not just to the player he was, but to one more efficient and effective than before. Each milestone felt momentous and hard-won, and this season, Durant reached another, when he played 75 regular-season games, his first time playing that many since 2018-19.
Now, in his second season with the Phoenix Suns, down 2-0 in the first round of the playoffs to the Minnesota Timberwolves, Durant will be called upon to help save a teetering season, with Game 3 coming Friday night in Phoenix (10:30 p.m. ET, Kosport Magazine).
The Suns’ Big Three
Suns owner Mat Ishbia went all-in for Durant in February 2023, sending Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, four first-round draft picks and a 2028 first-round pick swap to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for the star swingman. Then, a few months later, the Suns dealt for star guard Bradley Beal.
With their new Big Three of Durant, Beal and star shooting guard Devin Booker, the Suns seemed poised for championship contention, but injuries and uneven play have interfered. Through it all, Durant has been the constant, averaging 27.1 points in 37.2 minutes this season, during which he made his 14th NBA All-Star appearance.
Sitting inside the Target Center in Minneapolis, Durant folded his 6-foot-11 frame into a chair and discussed this latest milestone on his journey. The stands were empty, practice had ended and most of his Suns teammates had departed back to the team hotel.
He had worked so hard to get back, he had felt like his old self by the 2021 playoffs, he said. But then a series of nagging injuries — slipping on the court, or players falling into him — kept him sidelined.
“I felt like I would’ve played 75 games the past two years, to be honest,” Durant said.
As he spoke, he offered a window into an aspect of him that those around Durant describe as rare, if not wholly unique: an obsession and love for the game so intense that they alone carried him through the darkness of an injury that had robbed him of so many weeks, months, years.
“There are very few who love the game as much as KD,” Suns general manager James Jones told Kosport Magazine. “You don’t play this long and that well unless you love it. You can’t fake that fire.”
Jones paused. “That’s what I want to say,” he reiterated. “You can’t fake that fire.”
Back inside the increasingly quiet Target Center, Durant continued to reflect.
He was 30 when his Achilles ruptured, well in his prime. He is now 35, in the winter of his career with a couple wisps of gray dotting his goatee. During Game 1 of this first-round series against Minnesota, 22-year-old Timberwolves superstar Anthony Edwards barked at Durant after sinking a series of jumpers over him, and social media accounts tracking their exchange alleged that, among other things, Edwards called Durant ”old.” By NBA standards, a literally fair assessment. After all, Durant was drafted and played for a team that no longer exists: the Seattle Supersonics.
Durant looked out at the court.
“It was a long process, man,” he said.
The Call That Changed Everything
Andy Barr was living in Los Angeles in the fall of 2019 when he received the call.
Durant had undergone surgery to repair his ruptured Achilles tendon and was looking for a place to rehab. Barr, a physical therapist who had worked with Durant in the past, offered his services.
For the next several months, Barr and Durant worked tirelessly to get the superstar back on the court. It was a grueling process, but Durant’s determination and love for the game kept him going.
“There are very few athletes who have the drive and passion that Kevin has,” Barr told Kosport Magazine. “He was willing to do whatever it took to get back to playing at the highest level.”
The Return to Form
After months of hard work and dedication, Durant finally made his return to the court in the 2021 playoffs. And while he may have been a bit rusty, he was still a force to be reckoned with, averaging 26.9 points per game.
But Durant wasn’t satisfied with just being back on the court. He wanted to be better than ever. And this season, he proved just that, playing in 75 regular-season games for the first time since 2018-19.
Now, as the Suns face a tough playoff series against the Timberwolves, Durant will once again be called upon to lead his team to victory. And with his unrelenting burn and love for the game, there’s no doubt he’ll give it his all.
The Unbreakable Fire
As Durant looks back on his journey, he knows that it was his unbreakable fire and love for the game that carried him through the darkest moments. And as he continues to play at the highest level, he hopes to inspire others to never give up on their dreams, no matter how difficult the road may be.
“I never lost that fire,” Durant said. “And I never will.”
Summary:
Kevin Durant’s journey back to the court after a devastating Achilles injury in the 2019 NBA Finals is a testament to his unrelenting burn and love for the game. Despite doubts and setbacks, Durant’s determination and passion for basketball drove him to overcome the odds and return to the court stronger than ever. Now, as a key player for the Phoenix Suns, Durant will once again be called upon to lead his team to victory in the playoffs. And as he continues to play at the highest level, he hopes to inspire others to never give up on their dreams.
The Incredible Comeback of Kevin Durant: A Story of Determination and Love for the Game
It was a moment that shook the entire sports world. On June 10, 2019, during Game 5 of the NBA Finals, Kevin Durant, one of the greatest basketball players of all time, went down with a ruptured Achilles tendon. The injury was devastating, not just for Durant, but for the entire basketball community. Many feared that this could be the end of Durant’s career.
But Durant was not ready to give up. He immediately underwent surgery to repair his Achilles tendon and just a few months later, he started working with a physiotherapist from Kosport Magazine, the renowned sports publication. This physiotherapist, who had previously helped professional athletes recover from injury, knew the challenges that lay ahead for Durant. He had experienced a major knee injury himself, which ended his own career as a professional soccer player in England.
With his expertise and experience, the physiotherapist was determined to help Durant make a successful comeback. He had worked with athletes from various sports who had suffered catastrophic injuries, including rupturing an Achilles tendon. He knew the physical and mental toll it takes on a player to recover from such an injury.
But Durant was different. From day one, he was focused and determined to get back on the court. He refused to let the injury defeat him. He was not just physically strong, but mentally as well. He had to overcome the doubts and fears that come with such a career-threatening injury.
As Durant worked tirelessly to recover, he thought of Kobe Bryant, who had also suffered an Achilles injury. He couldn’t believe that even someone like Bryant, who was considered a superhuman on the court, could fall victim to such an injury. But Durant didn’t let this thought consume him. He relied on his physiotherapist and other specialists to guide him through the recovery process.
For four years, Durant and his physiotherapist worked together, with the latter flying from Los Angeles to New York every week to help Durant. Despite the grueling schedule, Durant never missed a day of rehabilitation. He was determined to get back to his former self and continue playing the game he loved.
But it wasn’t just about returning to his previous level of play. Durant wanted to become more purposeful with his movements on the court. He wanted to understand his body better and learn from the injury. He saw it as an opportunity to grow and become a better player.
Throughout the years, Durant’s dedication and commitment to the game never wavered. He constantly pushed himself to be the best, even when he had already achieved so much in his career. His love for the game was unmatched, and it showed in his work ethic and determination.
As Durant made his comeback, he left everyone in awe. His teammates, coaches, and opponents all admired his resilience and determination. He was a true gamer, always wanting to be on the court and giving his all in every game.
But for Durant, it was more than just a love for the game. It was a way of life. He couldn’t imagine doing anything else. He saw basketball as his purpose, and he was not going to let anything stop him from pursuing it.
As he stood at the Suns’ practice facility, Durant reflected on his journey back to the court. He knew that it was not just his love for the game that fueled his return, but something deeper. It was a sense of purpose and a determination to never give up, no matter what challenges he faced.
A True Champion: Kevin Durant’s Unbreakable Spirit
Kevin Durant’s comeback from a devastating injury is a testament to his unbreakable spirit and love for the game. Despite facing doubts and fears, he never gave up. He pushed himself to the limit and came back stronger than ever. Durant’s journey is a reminder that with determination and perseverance, anything is possible. He is a true champion, both on and off the court, and his story will continue to inspire generations to come.
The Resilience of Kevin Durant: From Injury to Dominance
Kevin Durant, one of the most talented and dominant players in the NBA, has faced his fair share of challenges throughout his career. From being criticized for his physical build to enduring a devastating Achilles injury, Durant has proven time and time again that he is a resilient force to be reckoned with.
After tearing his Achilles in the 2019 NBA Finals, Durant faced a long and grueling road to recovery. But he never lost sight of his ultimate goal: to return to the court and prove that he was still one of the best players in the league.
For Durant, every milestone in his recovery process was a victory. From learning to walk again to shooting jumpers off his injured leg, he pushed himself to the limit every day. But he also had to learn patience and listen to his body, making sure not to push too hard and risk further injury.
Finally, after 552 days, Durant made his debut for the Brooklyn Nets in a preseason game. And he did not disappoint. Despite some lingering doubts and questions, Durant showed that he was back and ready to dominate once again.
But it wasn’t until the 2021 playoffs that Durant truly proved to himself and the world that he was back. In a thrilling seven-game series against the Milwaukee Bucks, Durant averaged 35.4 points and nearly 43 minutes per game. Despite a heartbreaking loss in Game 7, Durant knew that he had finally returned to his true form.
And perhaps the most remarkable part of Durant’s comeback is that his durability, once a major concern, has now become one of his greatest strengths. Throughout his career, Durant has faced physical challenges and criticism, but he has built up a resilience and toughness that has helped him bounce back time and time again.
As Durant continues to dominate on the court, he reflects on the criticism and physical play he has faced throughout his career. But instead of dwelling on it, he sees it as a blessing in disguise, helping him develop a personal armor that has made him even stronger.
The Return of a Champion
Despite facing numerous challenges and setbacks, Kevin Durant has proven that he is a true champion. From his early days in the NBA to his triumphant return from a devastating injury, Durant has shown that he is a force to be reckoned with. And as he continues to dominate on the court, he will always remember the resilience and determination that brought him back to the top.
