“It’s an Achilles injury. … He’ll have an MRI tomorrow.”
Bob Myers holds back tears as he explains the magnitude of Kevin Durant’s injury.
Warriors president of basketball operations Bob Myers was in tears as he gave a press conference on Kevin Durant’s injury following Game 5 of the NBA finals. Myers was visibly emotional as he fought back tears announcing that Durant had an Achilles injury. Myers defended Durant and his commitment to playing for his teammates.
“The people that questioned whether he wanted to get back and play were wrong,” Meyers said, per ESPN. “He’s one of the most misunderstood people. He’s a good teammate and I’m lucky to know him.”
Myers did not announce a timeline for Durant’s recovery noting that the team will conduct an MRI test on Tuesday morning. The Warriors president also noted that he did not believe anyone was to blame but took responsibility himself if there was someone at fault. Contrary to popular opinion, Durant sustained a separate injury from the initial calf strain.
“The initial injury was a calf injury,” Myers explained, per The Washington Post. “This is not a calf injury. I don’t know how they are related but this is a different injury.”
Myers defended the decision for Durant to play. While it appears Durant came back too soon, Meyers does not believe there was any negligence involved.
“The people who worked with him and cleared him are good people,” Myers explained, per Hoops Hype.
Hoops Hype’s Alex Kennedy explained that the there are reports that some within the Warriors organization doubted Durant’s injury and pressured the All-Star into playing.
“If it’s true that some within the Warriors’ organization doubted the seriousness of Kevin Durant’s injury, you have to wonder if that’s going to become an issue down the road. Players don’t like to be questioned about injuries or pressured to play when hurt. Ask Kawhi Leonard,” Kennedy tweeted.
During the ABC broadcast, Mark Jackson noted that Durant’s plan at the beginning of the NBA finals was to target a return to play in Game 5. It will be interesting to see if further details emerge on the process used to clear Durant.
The Warriors Believe Durant Has a Torn Right Achilles Injury
ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported that the Warriors expect the test to reveal a torn right Achilles injury.
“The Warriors believe Kevin Durant’s MRI on Tuesday will confirm a torn right Achilles’ tendon, league sources tell me and @wojespn,” Shelburne tweeted.
Warriors owner Joe Lacob expressed the swing of emotion that the entire franchise felt in Game 5.
“I have experienced a lot since owning this team. Some lows and many highs,” Lacob explained to Shelburne. “Tonight was incredible pride in the resiliency of our team. And respect for KD coming back with our backs against the wall. But I am also so unbelievably sad about the KD injury.”