Kevin Durant Has Message for Raptors Fans Who Cheered His Finals Injury

Durant spoke to Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes in a wide-ranging interview.

durant opens up injury game 5
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TORONTO, CANADA - JUNE 10: Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors is seen during warm ups before the game against the Toronto Raptors in Game Five of the NBA Finals on June 10, 2019 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NMandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)

durant opens up injury game 5

Kevin Durant spoke to Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes in a wide-ranging interview that touched on his departure from the Warriors, the Brooklyn Nets, Kyrie Irving, his Achilles injury, and much more.

Durant, when asked about Toronto Raptors fans who cheered when he was injured in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, replied: "It will probably be the last time they will be in the Finals."

Kyle Lowry and the Warriors tell fans to stop cheering as Kevin Durant walks off with an injury. pic.twitter.com/UldE49bF22

"Yeah, I still think about that night," Durant said of Game 5. "Every experience I’ve been through in the league is obviously always ingrained in my mind, but that one is definitely always going to be a huge part of my career because it’s the biggest stage and the type of injury I had. But now I look at it as me just going out there playing basketball, and I happened to get hurt. And now I’m just waiting to get back. I know it’s a huge deal to everybody else, but I just try to take it on the chin and keep it moving."

Durant continued by saying that he was "aiming" to play in Game 5 after suffering a calf injury in May. "That’s why I played when it was 3-1. No matter what, I just wanted to play in the Finals. I just wanted to hoop... I was feeling good leading up to it. I was working out every day. I was gradually getting back to myself doing the two-a-days. I was really locked in on my game and trying to get back. I really wanted to play in that series."

When asked if the Warriors mishandled his calf injury, Durant replied, "Hell, no. How can you blame [the Warriors]? Hell, no." The 30-year-old went on, "I heard the Warriors pressured me into getting back. Nobody never said a word to me during rehab as I was coming back. It was only me and [director of sports medicine and performance] Rick [Celebrini] working out every day. Right when the series started, I targeted Game 5. Hell, nah. It just happened. It’s basketball. Shit happens. Nobody was responsible for it. It was just the game. We just need to move on from that shit because I'm going to be back playing."

When asked about Draymond Green, and the rumors that he left partially because of their relationship, Durant said that he's "tired of talking about that shit." He continued, "Look, we’re grown men [...] We understand what this is. We’re playing basketball for a living. It’s a business. Everybody congratulated me when I went to the Nets. Everybody wished me well, and they know that I’m still a phone call away. So, I just happen to play in a different jersey now. Nothing else is going to change."

Durant also spoke about his new teammate Kyrie Irving. "I think the friendship part of the league has really grown, especially since LeBron James and Dwyane Wade became such great friends and ended up playing together," Durant said. "People see friendship as the way guys are teaming up. There’s nothing wrong with people speculating. That’s just what it is, but we’re just good friends no matter what. We didn’t have to play together. It wasn’t necessary. But, we were friends before anything, and we just happened to want to hoop together. But it wasn’t a thing we planned. It just came together."

Durant also called his time with the Warriors "a life-changing experience." He continued, "I grew up as a young adult in OKC and then entering my 30s in Golden Sate was an enlightening experience, getting to play the game and reaching that level with the players of different backgrounds. It was just so much that went into that experience that elevated me mentally, physically and elevated my game. It was a fun time and I appreciate all that we accomplished together."

Head over to Yahoo Sports to read the full piece.

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