There’s a reason why he’s called the Slim Reaper! Kevin Durant is undoubtedly one of the most passionate players in the NBA. Despite setbacks in the form of injuries, the superstar has always managed to bounce back. More impressively, KD has done so while remaining at the top of his game, a feat few players achieve after serious injuries. Speaking of Durant’s resilience, former player JJ Redick, who suffered a career-ending injury, recently praised Durant’s remarkable dedication.

Ahead of the Lakers‘ Friday night matchup against the Phoenix Suns, Coach Redick addressed the press. When a reporter asked about Durant and what impresses him most, Redick responded without hesitation. “Let’s just take the injury out of it,” Redick said. “I think he just marveled just with the consistent level of excellence from him over the course of his career.”

JJ continued, “He is one of the most talented players and one of the most hard-working players. The dedication he has for his craft is second to none. So I’ve always been someone that has certainly admired both as a peer, competitor, whatever.” Above all, he selflessly drew a comparison with Kevin Durant and said, “I had a partial tear and an overgrown heal bone that required surgery and ended my career. And he had a full rupture, and he came back and still playing… It’s remarkable.”

Before diving deeper into Durant’s injury journey, let’s revisit Redick’s career-ending injury. In his 15-season career, Redick played his final games with the Mavericks and Pelicans. The 2020-21 season proved challenging as he battled numerous injuries, appearing in only 44 games. Ultimately, a heel injury sidelined him just before the playoffs, leading to his retirement.

Kevin Durant and his vigorous injury journey

“It’s 20,000 people in there and I heard a pop. So I’m like ‘oh my gosh,’ and my whole basketball career flashed before my eyes,” said Kevin Durant, reminiscing about his grave injury from the 2019 Finals. The Slim Reaper had a short but effective three-year stint with the Warriors, reaching three Finals and winning two of them.

However, Durant’s third year with the Warriors was tumultuous, marked by internal conflict, especially with Draymond Green. And to top it all, he suffered a calf strain in the postseason, keeping him out of action for nine games. He returned for Game 5 of the NBA Finals, but two minutes into the second quarter, he suffered a non-contact injury, resulting in a torn Achilles.

Speaking in a conversation with Boardroom, KD said, “That’s when I knew, I’m like ‘I’m probably wouldn’t go back to the Bay again.” And he was right—it was his last moment in a Warriors jersey. After sitting out the 2019-20 season to recover, Durant joined the Brooklyn Nets, forming a superteam with Kyrie Irving and James Harden. Guess what, he averaged much more than how much he averaged with the Dubs in terms of points per game. Thereby, proving what JJ Redick meant.