NBA Finals hits a sour note as former OKC Thunder star Kevin Durant injured

The NBA Finals took a sour turn with what appears to be a severe injury to former OKC Thunder superstar Kevin Durant.

The NBA Finals will return to Oracle and whatever your feelings for Kevin Durant and his time with the OKC Thunder are, witnessing what happened in Game 5 had to leave you feeling nauseous. The combination of film replay and Bob Myers emotional podium comments confirmed it was an Achilles injury although the severity is unknown.

Durant started the game on fire hitting all three of his perimeter attempts collecting 11 points, 2 rebounds and a block in his 12 minutes on the hardwood.

Initially when the injury occurred the crowd at Scotiabank reacted with cheers presumably thinking he had just turned over the ball. But, immediately Kyle Lowry, Danny Green, and former Durant teammate Serge Ibaka extended their hands up to the crowd to indicate Durant had sustained a serious injury. At this point, the crowd switched to applauding and chanting his name as he was helped from the court.

I have to say it was embarrassing witnessing the initial response (especially since I’m Canadian). I can also state I’ve been at several games where opposing players were injured and never witnessed a response like that from a Raptors crowd.

Perhaps part of this is due to the egregious price of tickets (several thousand dollars for nose bleed seats) and the fact this leads to less knowledgeable fans being in attendance. I’m sure it’s a similar feeling for Warriors fans who felt sickened by Mark Stevens actions toward Kyle Lowry in Game 3.

Postgame, Raptors Head Coach Nick Nurse said several Raptors players were upset and Kyle Lowry specifically was really shaken by the injury. He further stated Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson spoke to Lowry coming out to start the second half and indicated ‘something was torn’. Nurse’s comments were not stated by anyone on the Warriors side and therefore has not been confirmed.

It’s likely the media will be all over this story and they’ll be plenty of commentary over his teammates pushing the superstar to play. There will also be copious opinions over whether Durant felt pressured to make a return earlier than he should have. The recent Sam Amick article in The Athletic (paid for subscription) only added fuel over Durant’s absence and no doubt will provide additional fodder in the coming days.

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Earlier this season when Paul George sustained injuries to both shoulders there was debate over whether he should play in the postseason. George stated he couldn’t make the injuries worse and elected to play through the pain.

Ironically, Kawhi Leonard was resting on the bench bearing witness to the events, knowing how he and the Raptors took heat all season over his ‘load management’ and Leonard himself recently stated if you can run, you play – it’s the playoffs. No doubt, this Durant injury will offer perspective to how teams address superstars regular season minutes and further discussion over the length of the regular season.

I genuinely hope K.D’s injury is a short term situation and not an Achilles tear which would mean his extended absence.

In my humble opinion, the NBA ranks at the top of the five major professional sports leagues (I’m including the NFL, MLB, NHL and MLS in this equation) and is at it’s most enjoyable when the best in the business are playing no matter what jersey they wear or team they represent.

To that end, the T.I. team sends out our prayers to Kevin Durant hoping the injury isn’t an Achilles tear and our hopes that he’ll be back on the court soon.

Durant left the arena wearing a walking boot assisted with crutches and will undergo an MRI Tuesday to determine the severity of the Achilles injury.

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Again, TI sends out best wishes and our prayers to Kevin Durant with hopes the tests reveal a less severe injury than presumed.

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