![Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) reaches down to touch...]()
Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) reaches down to touch his leg after shooting a basket over Houston Rockets' Iman Shumpert (1) during the third quarter of Game 5 of their NBA second round playoff series at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. on Wednesday, May 8, 2019. After landing Durant would begin limping from an injury and would not return to the game. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
![Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) shoots over Houston Rockets'...]()
Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) shoots over Houston Rockets' Iman Shumpert (1) during the third quarter of Game 5 of their NBA second round playoff series at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. on Wednesday, May 8, 2019. After landing Durant would begin limping from an injury and would not return to the game. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
![Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) limps as teammate Andre...]()
Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) limps as teammate Andre Iguodala (9) loos on during the third quarter of Game 2 of their NBA second round playoff series at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, May 8, 2019. Durant left the game and didn't come back. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group
![Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) deflects a shot to...]()
Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) deflects a shot to Houston Rockets' P.J. Tucker (17) during the third quarter of Game 2 of their NBA second round playoff series at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, May 8, 2019. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group
![Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) celebrates with Klay Thompson(11)...]()
Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) celebrates with Klay Thompson(11) in the second quarter of Game 5 of their NBA second round playoff series against the Houston Rockets at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, May 8, 2019. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)
![Motivational speaker Tony Robbins takes a picture of Golden State...]()
Motivational speaker Tony Robbins takes a picture of Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) during a timeout in the second quarter of Game 5 of their NBA second round playoff series at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. on Wednesday, May 8, 2019. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
![Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) shoots the ball against...]()
Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) shoots the ball against Houston Rockets' Austin Rivers (25) in the first quarter of Game 5 of an NBA second round playoff series at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, May 8, 2019. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
![Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) dribbles the ball against...]()
Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) dribbles the ball against Houston Rockets' Austin Rivers (25) in the first quarter of Game 5 of an NBA second round playoff series at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, May 8, 2019. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
![Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) dribble the ball against...]()
Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) dribble the ball against Houston Rockets' P.J. Tucker (17) in the first quarter of Game 5 of an NBA second round playoff series at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, May 8, 2019. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
![Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) dunks the ball against...]()
Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) dunks the ball against Houston Rockets' P.J. Tucker (17) and Clint Capela (15) in the first quarter of Game 5 of an NBA second round playoff series at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, May 8, 2019. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
![Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) greets fans after warmups...]()
Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) greets fans after warmups before Game 5 of their NBA second round playoff series against the Houston Rockets at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, May 8, 2019. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
![Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) lands on the court...]()
Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) lands on the court after shooting a basket past Houston Rockets' Iman Shumpert (1) during the third quarter of Game 5 of their NBA second round playoff series at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. on Wednesday, May 8, 2019. After landing Durant would begin limping from an injury and would not return to the game. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
![Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) goes up for a...]()
Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) goes up for a lay up past the Houston Rockets during the second half of Game 4 of their NBA second round playoff series at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas on Monday, May 6, 2019. The Houston Rockets defeated the Golden State Warriors 112-108. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
![Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) drives against Houston Rockets'...]()
Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) drives against Houston Rockets' Chris Paul (3) during the fourth quarter of Game 4 of their NBA second round playoff series at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas on Monday, May 6, 2019. The Houston Rockets defeated the Golden State Warriors 112-108. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
![Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr walks off the...]()
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr walks off the court with Kevin Durant (35) after being defeated by the Houston Rockets in Game 4 of their NBA second round playoff series at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas on Monday, May 6, 2019. The Houston Rockets defeated the Golden State Warriors 112-108. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
![Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) gets called for fouling...]()
Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) gets called for fouling Houston Rockets' Chris Paul (3) during the first quarter of Game 4 of their NBA second round playoff series at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas on Monday, May 6, 2019. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
![Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) reacts after a foul...]()
Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) reacts after a foul call while playing the Houston Rockets during the second quarter of Game 4 of their NBA second round playoff series at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas on Monday, May 6, 2019. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
![Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) attempts to drives against...]()
Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) attempts to drives against Houston Rockets' Austin Rivers (25) during the second quarter of Game 4 of their NBA second round playoff series at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas on Monday, May 6, 2019. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
![Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) blocks a shot by...]()
Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) blocks a shot by Houston Rockets' Clint Capela (15) during the first quarter of Game 4 of their NBA second round playoff series at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas on Monday, May 6, 2019. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
![Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) walks off the court...]()
(Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) walks off the court after defeating the Houston Rockets during Game 1 of their NBA second round playoff series at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. on Sunday, April 28, 2019. The Golden State Warriors defeated the Houston Rockets 104-100. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
![Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) makes a basket...]()
Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) makes a basket during the first half of their game against the Miami Heat on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019, in Oakland, Calif. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)
![Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) speaks to the media...]()
Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) speaks to the media following their 141-102 win over the San Antonio Spurs at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
![Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) looks to take a...]()
Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) looks to take a shot against San Antonio Spurs' Marco Belinelli (18) in the first quarter at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
![Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) shoots a basket...]()
Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) shoots a basket over Miami Heat defender Justise Winslow (20) during the first half of their game on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019, in Oakland, Calif. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)
![Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors watches from...]()
Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors watches from the bench during the first half of the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena on December 31, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
![Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) is guarded by...]()
Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) is guarded by the Miami Heat's Justise Winslow (20) during the first half of their game on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019, in Oakland, Calif. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)
![Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) makes a basket...]()
Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) makes a basket during the first half of their game against the Miami Heat on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019, in Oakland, Calif. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)
![Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) is guarded by...]()
Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) is guarded by the Miami Heat's Justise Winslow (20) during the first half of their game on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019, in Oakland, Calif. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)
![Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors attempts a...]()
Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors attempts a shot over Mikal Bridges #25 of the Phoenix Suns during the first half of the NBA game at Talking Stick Resort Arena on February 08, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
![Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) drives past Miami...]()
Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) drives past Miami Heat defender Bam Adebayo (13) during the second half of their game on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2019, in Oakland, Calif. (Aric Crabb/Bay Area News Group)
![Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors drives to...]()
Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors drives to the basket against Harrison Barnes #40 of the Dallas Mavericks in the first half at American Airlines Center on November 17, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
![Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) covers his face during...]()
Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) covers his face during a timeout against the New Orleans Pelicans during the second quarter of a NBA game at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2019. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
![Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) scores a basket over...]()
Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) scores a basket over San Antonio Spurs' Marco Belinelli (18) in the first quarter at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
![Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) guards against San Antonio...]()
Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) guards against San Antonio Spurs' Marco Belinelli (18) in the first quarter at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
![Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) pauses during a timeout...]()
(Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) pauses during a timeout against the New York Knicks in the second quarter of a NBA game at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2017. (Ray Chavez/Bay Area News Group)
![Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) takes a shot against...]()
Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) takes a shot against San Antonio Spurs' Davis Bertans (42) in the second quarter at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
![Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) tumbles to the ground...]()
Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) tumbles to the ground after attempting to recover a loose ball against the Philadelphia 76ers during the fourth quarter of their NBA game at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. on Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019. The Philadelphia 76ers defeated the Golden State Warriors 113-104. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
![Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) dunks the ball against...]()
Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) dunks the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers during the first quarter of their NBA game at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. on Thursday, Jan. 31, 2019. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
![Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors stretches before...]()
Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors stretches before the game against the Indiana Pacers at Bankers Life Fieldhouse on January 28, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
![Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) scores a basket over...]()
Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) scores a basket over San Antonio Spurs' Marco Belinelli (18) in the first quarter at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019. (Nhat V. Meyer/Bay Area News Group)
![Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) gets past Chicago Bulls'...]()
Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) gets past Chicago Bulls' Lauri Markkanen (24) in the first period of their basketball game in Oakland, Calif., on Friday, Jan. 11, 2019. (Doug Duran/Bay Area News Group)
![Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35), right, sticks his tongue...]()
Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35), right, sticks his tongue out while guarding Los Angeles Lakers' Brandon Ingram (14), left, during the first quarter of their game at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2018. (Randy Vazquez/Bay Area News Group)
![Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry (30) is all smiles while...]()
Golden State Warriors' Stephen Curry (30) is all smiles while standing with teammate Kevin Durant (35) while waiting for an interview after defeating the Los Angeles Clippers during NBA game at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif. on Sunday, Dec. 23, 2018. Golden State Warriors defeated the Los Angeles Clippers 129-127. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
![Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) warms up before his...]()
Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) warms up before his team's game versus the Los Angeles Lakers at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2018. (Randy Vazquez/Bay Area News Group)
![Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) speaks with Toronto...]()
Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) speaks with Toronto Raptors coach Nick Nurse during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018, in Toronto. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
![Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors walks on...]()
Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors walks on on the court during a time-out from the first half of the NBA game against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena on February 08, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
![Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) and Golden State Warriors...]()
Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard (2) and Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant (35) reach for the ball during the first half of an NBA basketball game Thursday, Nov. 29, 2018, in Toronto. (Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press via AP)
![Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) is photographed before his...]()
Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant (35) is photographed before his teams game versus the Los Angeles Lakers at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Tuesday, Dec. 25, 2018. (Randy Vazquez/Bay Area News Group)
![Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant #35 is guarded by Dallas...]()
Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant #35 is guarded by Dallas Mavericks' Harrison Barnes #40 in the first quarter of their NBA game at Oracle Arena in Oakland, Calif., on Saturday, Dec. 22, 2018. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
![Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors reacts against...]()
Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors reacts against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on December 3, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
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In the two weeks since Kevin Durant popped his right Achilles tendon, dramatically changing his career arc as well as the gravity of the NBA’s upcoming free agent signing period, he has yet to proffer a statement of substance.
Smart move, circumspection. Besides, so great is the interest in his condition, he would have a tough time getting his voice heard amid the noise.
Ric Bucher, Bleacher Report’s NBA insider, dropped by 95.7 The Game on Friday, with a take that probably surprises no one.
| THE KD FREE AGENCY TRACKER: Go here for one-stop, rumor-mill shopping |
“What I’ve heard through various places, is that (Durant) is not really happy with how things went down because of the injury,” Bucher told hosts Matt Steinmetz and Brian Scalabrine. “There’s an element of, ‘Was I misled as far as injuring myself, coming back and playing, and having a catastrophic injury like this coming off a calf strain?'”
You might recall that Durant missed a month of the postseason after suffering a right calf strain, then dramatically returned to action in Game 5 of the NBA Finals. For 11:57 minutes of floor time, the comeback was a roaring success. Then Durant went down.
“We don’t know, definitively, exactly what was said, how much was said, how much he was aware of that,” Bucher said, “but I can tell you that people in the KD camp, people are running for cover because they don’t want to be holding the bag on who led him astray.”
Given Durant’s stature, his future as a free agent, all the money that was potentially at stake, and a three-peat legacy in tatters, that’s not difficult to imagine.
Bucher again: “Because the bottom line is, what Steve Kerr said, ‘We didn’t think he could get injured worse.’ If Steve Kerr was told that, I’m sure KD was told that. And now he’s looking at the prospect of not playing for, possibly, a year and having his free agency upended. I don’t see how that makes him happier with the Warriors than he was before.”
To be continued.
