NBA Finals 2019: Kevin Durant announces he's undergone successful surgery to repair ruptured Achilles

Scott Rafferty

NBA Finals 2019: Kevin Durant announces he's undergone successful surgery to repair ruptured Achilles image

The injury Kevin Durant went down with in Game 5 of the NBA Finals has been confirmed as a ruptured Achilles.

Durant made the announcement on Instagram on Wednesday after he underwent surgery.

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What’s good everybody I wanted to update you all: I did rupture my Achilles. Surgery was today and it was a success, EASY MONEY My road back starts now! I got my family and my loved ones by my side and we truly appreciate all the messages and support people have sent our way. Like I said Monday, I'm hurting deeply, but I'm OK. Basketball is my biggest love and I wanted to be out there that night because that’s what I do. I wanted to help my teammates on our quest for the three peat. Its just the way things go in this game and I'm proud that I gave it all I physically could, and I'm proud my brothers got the W. It's going to be a journey but I'm built for this. I’m a hooper I know my brothers can get this Game 6, and I will be cheering  with dub nation while they do it.

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Durant missed nine straight games in these playoffs due to a right calf strain he suffered in Game 5 of the Western Conference Semifinals against the Houston Rockets. Durant played 11 minutes in his highly anticipated return, scoring 11 points on 3-for-5 shooting from the field.

Durant exited the game with just under 10 minutes to play in the second quarter. He was soon ruled out for the remainder of the game with a "right lower leg injury" and Warriors president of basketball operations Bob Myers said post-game that it was an Achilles injury.

"I'm hurting deep in the soul right now I can't lie," Durant posted on Instagram following Golden State's win. "But seeing my brothers get this win was like taking a shot of tequila, I got new life lol."

MORE: A medical expert on Durant's injury

Durant has been the team's leading scorer in these playoffs with a career-best 32.3 points per game on 51.4% shooting from the field, 43.8% from the perimeter and 90.3% from the free throw line. According to ESPN, he's the first player in NBA history (minimum five games played) to average 30 points with those shooting splits in a single postseason.

Durant has a player option worth $31.5 million in his contract for the 2019-20 season. If he declines it, he's widely considered to be this offseason's best free agent.

Scott Rafferty

Scott Rafferty Photo

 

Scott Rafferty is an experienced NBA journalist who first started writing for The Sporting News in 2017. There are few things he appreciates more than a Nikola Jokic no-look pass, Klay Thompson heat check or Giannis Antetokounmpo eurostep. He's a member of the NBA Global team.