Kevin Durant has long been haunted by his infamous “toe on the line” shot in Game 7 of the 2022 Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Milwaukee Bucks.
A recent viral clip has reignited that painful memory, showing Luka Doncic playfully teasing Durant about the shot during a game between the Phoenix Suns and the Los Angeles Lakers.
PTSD is real 😭 pic.twitter.com/49u68Rm4aG
— ³⁵ 𝟕 (@35wrlld) March 19, 2025
The montage in the video highlights how Durant constantly looks down at his feet before shooting—a habit that many believe stems from that fateful night in 2022.
The clip even suggested that Durant might have developed a form of “PTSD” from that moment, given how cautious he is about ensuring his feet are behind the three-point line before taking a shot.
https://t.co/wlnEz7PRHN pic.twitter.com/cul5tDBXpR
— Kevin Durant (@KDTrey5) March 20, 2025
In response to the viral montage, Durant posted an image of a soldier suffering from PTSD, hinting that he still relives that moment and the impact it had on his career. It was a subtle but telling reaction, suggesting that even years later, that shot still lingers in his mind.
That moment, which turned a potential game-winning three-pointer into a game-tying two-pointer, forced overtime instead of sealing victory for the Brooklyn Nets. The Nets went on to lose in OT, 115-111, ending their season in heartbreaking fashion.
On June 19, 2022, the Brooklyn Nets faced off against the Milwaukee Bucks in a winner-take-all Game 7. Durant delivered one of the greatest performances in NBA playoff history, putting up 48 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, and 1 block while shooting 17-36 from the field and 4-11 from three. He played all 53 minutes in the game, carrying a Nets team that was missing Kyrie Irving and had a hobbled James Harden.
With just one second left in regulation, the Nets trailed by two points. Durant received the ball, turned, and launched a shot over P.J. Tucker. The ball swished through the net, and the Barclays Center erupted, thinking Durant had hit a game-winning three-pointer. But upon closer review, his toe was just barely touching the three-point line. Instead of winning the game, the shot only tied it at 109-109, forcing overtime.
In the extra period, the Bucks outlasted the exhausted Nets, and Giannis Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee to victory. The Bucks went on to win the NBA Championship, while Durant and the Nets were left wondering what could have been.
Had Durant’s foot been just an inch further back, the Nets would have won Game 7 and likely gone on to the NBA Finals. Given the state of the league at the time, they might have even won a championship, adding another ring to Durant’s legacy.
Instead, Brooklyn’s superteam fell apart, and Durant requested a trade just a year later. He now plays for the Phoenix Suns, still searching for his first championship since leaving the Golden State Warriors.
The viral clip and Durant’s reaction show that even years later, he hasn’t forgotten that moment—and perhaps never will.
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