NBA Finals Poll: Raptors vs. Warriors

[ninjacookies]

Originally Posted by pennywise

I just read this about Achilles injuries:

"According to a 2013 medical study that identified 18 players who suffered major Achilles injuries over a 23-year span (1988-2011), seven players never returned to the league. Players who returned missed an average of 56 games and saw their PER decline in their first and second seasons back. A 2015 CBS Sports article found that among 14 players who returned from Achilles injuries since 1992, they averaged fewer minutes while both their field goal and three-point percentages dropped, on average. There are very few complete success stories."

Hoping KD can make a full recovery but historically speaking, it doesn't look like a 100% return to form is even on the table. Obviously, I don't know or claim to know the severity of Durant's injury but from what I've read, it doesn't look good for him if this is a complete tear of the tendon. Certainly what it looked like in that close-up video.

Odds certainly don't favor him. It hinders a player's lift and explosiveness, which is everything in basketball. Cousins has had his flashes this year, but he's nowhere near the same player he once was.

Kobe's was a death sentence, but he was already nearing retirement anyways.

The one thing that does favor Durant a bit is that he'll always have a massive size advantage, especially with his long arms. So perhaps he'll learn to adapt his game more to extend his longevity.