Kevin Durant is among the best players in the world right now and his success isn’t limited by the various changes he has had to put his body through. Recovering from an Achilles tear after turning 30 and coming back as a better player isn’t easy to do, but Durant is among the most special athletes in sports history.
It was revealed earlier today that KD took advice from Kobe Bryant when he suffered his Achilles tear. In the same article, KD’s influence on other athletes recovering from Achilles’ tears was made clear, especially with how KD dealt with Klay Thompson.
When Kevin Durant tore his Achilles, he received an encouraging text from Kobe Bryant, who tore his in 2013.
The message? "Don’t be a f—ing crybaby. It's going to be all right."
Now Durant, The Achilles Whisperer, is passing it on.https://t.co/GXLizk0M6U
— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) January 5, 2023
He got a call from Durant, his former teammate in Golden State, who was preparing for his own return to the court as a Net. “You’re going to be all right,” Durant told him.
Thompson said the first few months after tearing his Achilles were especially hard. He went from being on the brink of getting to play again to having basketball taken away for another year. He wondered if he’d be great again. The 32-year-old said his friends and family helped get him through that period, and Durant played a part, both directly and indirectly.
“To see him be an all-NBA guy and almost average damn near 30, it gave me a lot of confidence that if I put the work in, I would (get back to playing like) myself,” said Thompson, a four-time champion and five-time All-Star.
Like with Sumner, Durant has geared his conversations with Thompson toward their calves. “We talked about the (rehab) process,” Durant said. “… Every time I’m talking to Klay, [I’m] like, ‘How’s your calf looking? Are you able to go up and do a toe raise yet?’ And that’s really when you start to come back, when you can put all your body weight on your toe and raise up.” (h/t The Athletic)
Kyrie Irving also recently revealed how strengthening his toes for his body weight to not crumble on his ankle has helped him succeed, so Durant probably is sharing these tips with every player who he can help with extending their career. What he’s doing for his former teammate in Thompson is wonderful to see.
Kevin Durant Proves He’s Truly One-Of-A-Kind
This season has proved that Durant is unmatched in modern basketball. To return from that gravity of injury with the success he has had has never been seen before, which is why so many athletes pay heed to the advice he has to share.
Durant was excelling during the Nets’ 12-game win streak that saw them come into contention for the best record in the NBA. While it ended against the Bulls, KD still put on a show for everyone to appreciate. The man is in the race for MVP and if the Nets end the year with the best record, it’ll be hard to deny him.
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