Kevin Durant is among the best players in the NBA despite being a 35-year-old who recently returned from an Achilles injury. After missing the entire 2019-20 season, Durant came back and picked up right where he left off. His domination on the court has kept him in the upper echelon of stars on the court.
KD proving that players can return to their former selves and even improve their skill set after an Achilles tear has raised eyes around the world. But KD owes a debt of gratitude to Kobe Bryant for making him work hard to get through the injury. Bryant stirred Durant into action by using just 5 words.
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
Durant received an encouraging message of his own the night he tore his Achilles – a text from Kobe Bryant. The Black Mamba tore his Achilles in 2013 at age 34 and famously stayed in the game to shoot a pair of free throws before limping off the court. “Don’t be a f—— crybaby,” Durant said of Bryant’s message. “It’s going to be all right. You’re going to come back and be who you are.”
Bryant stayed on Durant days afterward and discussed people to work with and certain physical therapies. But Durant said Bryant’s advice was just that – advice. Durant went on his own from there. “When my mind was racing everywhere, it was good to hear from him,” Durant said. “Especially him going through it later in his career.” (h/t The Athletic)
Kobe’s career was never the same after his Achilles tear but Kevin Durant is rewriting the map for players that go through that injury. Klay Thompson is another great example, who dropped 54 points in a recent win over the Hawks.
The Changing Limits For Maintaining Athletic Shape
Up until a decade ago, a clear line could be drawn between when a player’s prime starts to fade. Players in their 30s are not expected to contribute for much longer and have a dip in performances but many players are breaking that mold, even after coming back from serious injuries.
Older players are still more injury prone but KD, LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and more have shown how taking care of your body can extend your career even when injuries are a problem. We’re seeing this in other sports as well, with Lionel Messi in soccer, Tom Brady in football, Fernando Alonso in F1, and others.
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