Kevin Durant Shares Behind-the-Scenes Insight on Jayson Tatum Recovery - CLNS Media

Kevin Durant Discusses Jayson Tatum's Achilles Recovery

In an exclusive interview with CLNS Media, Kevin Durant revealed that Boston Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla and Jayson Tatum's mother sought his advice following Tatum's Achilles injury.

Durant Reflects on His Own Achilles Injury

After leading his team with 26 points on 8-for-11 shooting against the Celtics at TD Garden, Durant, who recently turned 37, paused to consider how his 2019 Achilles rupture changed his game. He gestured physically as he explained the adjustments he made.

"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’s Journey as the "Achilles Guy"

Durant reluctantly became the go-to player for advice on Achilles injuries, being one of the few athletes to recover so fully. He described the injury sensation as feeling like someone kicked the calf, followed by an inevitable fall.

After missing 15 months, Durant returned strong — averaging 26.9 points per game and making the All-Star team within his first 35 games back. Six seasons later, his impressive stats include 27.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, 5.1 assists per game, shooting 53.1% from the field and 41.4% from three-point range.

Durant's Performance Post-Injury

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CLNS Media CLNS Media — 2025-11-02

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