Kevin Durant Shares Insight on Jayson Tatum's Achilles Recovery
Joe Mazzulla and Jayson Tatum's mother sought advice from Kevin Durant after Tatum tore his Achilles, Durant revealed in an exclusive interview with CLNS Media.
Durant Reflects on His Own Achilles Injury
After leading his team to victory over the Celtics with 26 points on 8-for-11 shooting at TD Garden, Durant, who just turned 37, paused to reflect on how his infamous 2019 Achilles rupture changed his game. Demonstrating, he mimicked an imaginary shot while explaining the adjustment in his style.
“It was small, subtle changes, subtle tweaks,” Durant said. “But I felt like my bread-and-butter was my short to mid-range. I felt like I can still shoot the threes, the side-steps, the step-backs, that was cool, but I just felt like I had to be way more efficient and get closer to the rim.”
Durant Became a Reference for Achilles Recovery
Durant reluctantly accepted the label of the "Achilles guy," as many athletes turn to him after suffering the same injury—often described as feeling like getting kicked in the calf followed by a fall. Few players have recovered as successfully as Durant.
- He missed 15 months following the injury.
- Upon return, he averaged 26.9 points per game and was named an All-Star within his first 35 games back.
- Now, six seasons later, Durant averages 27.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game.
- He maintains impressive shooting percentages: 53.1% from the field and 41.4% from three-point range.
This performance matches or even surpasses his output from the previous 12 seasons.
Author's Summary
Kevin Durant's journey from a severe Achilles injury to sustained elite performance offers valuable insight for Jayson Tatum's recovery process.