Getty Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant
After Kevin Durant was forced to leave during the third quarter of Game 5, many wondered if the Warriors all-star suffered from a torn Achilles. TNT reported Durant is dealing with a strained right calf, but it does not appear to be an Achilles injury. If the injury had been a torn Achilles, it would have likely ended Durant’s season.
The Warriors have not released many details on Durant’s injury aside from labeling it a calf strain. Durant is expected to get an MRI on Thursday, May 9th.
Athletes who have suffered a torn Achilles include Kobe Bryant and Richard Sherman. Bryant suffered a torn Achilles in April of 2013 and returned 19 games into the 2013-14 season. This would put Bryant’s recovery in the seven to eight-month range. Bryant spoke about what his recovery was like.
“The most important part is not looking at the finish line,” Bryant noted to ESPN. “It’s so far away, it’s like starting at the base of Everest and you’re looking up at the summit. That’s big. That’s what the Achilles injury is like, man, it’s tough. You can’t think about the finish line. You have to just think about the day that’s right here in front of you now. You put one foot in front of the other and then next thing you know, time has gone by and you’re at the top of the mountain. But you have got to just take it one step at a time.”
Here is a look at Bryant’s injury back in 2013.
DeMarcus Cousins Missed 11 Months With a Torn Achilles
The Warriors are familiar with Achilles injuries as DeMarcus Cousins dealt with one. Cousins’ recovery timeline was longer than Bryant’s as the big man missed 11 months before returning to the court.
Both Bryant and Cousins sustained other injuries the season they returned from the Achilles tear. Bryant suffered a knee injury just six games after his return. Cousins sustained another injury in the first round of the NBA playoffs, just four months after his return to the court.
Forbes.com detailed the kind of surgery needed to repair a torn Achilles.
Surgically, Achilles tendon tears are relatively easy to repair. Usually a small incision is made over the back of the ankle, and the torn tendon ends are sutured together. The real issue for patients is the recovery. After surgery, the athlete will undergo a period of immobilization and then regain ankle range of motion and leg strength via physical therapy. Many athletes must undergo physical therapy for a year or more before the leg recovers enough to compete.
Although the healing rates for surgery are high, it is still very difficult for athletes to fully recover their explosive power. This becomes a huge issue for basketball players.
