Kevin Durant is setting the record straight about the events that preceded his departure from the Golden State Warriors.
In an interview with Yahoo! Sports’ Chris Haynes on Wednesday, the former MVP discussed his Achilles tear and said that he did not blame the team for it.
“Hell, no. How can you blame [the Warriors]? Hell, no,” said Durant. “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,” he went on. “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.”
Durant, who signed with Brooklyn this summer, ruptured his right Achilles in Game 5 of the NBA Finals in June with the injury coming just minutes after he had returned to the court from a multi-week absence with a right calf strain. The Warriors and their medical staff took some major heat for their handling of the situation, and Durant’s own social media activity certainly didn’t help.
The injury may or may not have contributed to the 10-time All-Star’s decision to leave Golden State, but it does not sound like he harbors any ill will towards the team because of it.
