Kevin Durant’s Obsession With Lakers Nearly Ended His NBA Career as Heartbreaking Confession Emerges

For months during the offseason, it felt like a real possibility that Kevin Durant could return to the Bay. The Suns took an early tumble in the postseason fueling the wild rumors. However, while they were shut down, people wondered what the time with the Warriors meant for the Slim Reaper. It may have ended on a sour note, but until the last moment, he only had one thing on his mind. To do something “special”.

When speaking to Tony Allen, Durant recalled the dreaded 2019 NBA Finals against the Raptors. That’s famous when KD tore his Achilles when reports suggested he was in no shape to make a timely return in Game 5. But from a personal perspective, the 36-year-old felt ready.

“I swear I didn’t think I was going to tear my achilles that night. I had played three-on-three with the guys like the day before and I felt solid. Moving around, dunking, shooting the ball well so I felt good. So I went to the game just as a normal game,” he told Allen.

Sadly, the moment occurred in the second quarter. Despite the loud arena, Durant heard the snap. “That s**t pop and right when it did I’m like damn. I knew exactly what it was,” the Sun forward said on Out of The Mud. As positive as Kevin Durant was during the recovery process, he did admit to being “nervous”.

“I was nervous cause you hear about that injury you hear it’s a career-ender. Like you never going to be the same or you done. And I was about to be a free agent too and I’m only 31. I’m like this ain’t about to be the end,” he said about his mindset. Even with that injury, the Brooklyn Nets realized how valuable the Slim Reaper is to any franchise.

So even though he would have to sit out an entire year, the Nets made a move for the free agent. But prior to picking up the major ailment, only one thing consumed Kevin Durant.

Kevin Durant wanted to do something special with the Warriors

Throughout that 2019 season, a number of thoughts may have crossed Durant. He didn’t feel like “part of the team culture” despite their success. However, while playing in the playoffs, his mindset was fixated. Kevin Durant wanted to make history. There hadn’t been a three-peat since the Shaq and Kobe Lakers.

So Durant was as energized as ever during the 2019 postseason. “That was the main goal is to three-peat. Ain’t done that since the Lakers I’m like we need to do that. That was on my mind the whole playoffs. Three-peat, do something special. And we had a great chance. And right before that night I think I was like we going to come back from down 3-1 and get this three-peat. But s**t happens,” he told Tony Allen.

Although Kevin Durant did pick up an injury, the Warriors managed to steal a thrilling Game 5. The hope continued to stay alive with the vintage Splash Brothers still at their peak. However, in Game 6, Klay Thompson landed awkwardly after a dunk, starting his run of ailments. And a still frame of Curry sitting on the other side of the court said it all.

In the end, the Raptors won a special NBA championship. As for the Warriors, it marked the end of their prolific dynasty.