Dr. Robert Grumet Weighs In on Kevin Durant's NBA Finals Injury

Many watched as Golden State Warriors player Kevin Durant fell to the floor during Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors. Durant had been sidelined since May 8, after he had strained his right calf during Game 5 of the Warrior’s second-round playoff series with the Rockets.

Unfortunately, the injury Durant suffered most recently involves a ruptured Achilles tendon. This injury can typically be treated conservatively with rest, activity modifications and anti-inflammatories. However, many elite athletes will undergo minimally invasive Achilles tendon repair surgery to minimize the chance for a repeat tear of the tendon. Unfortunately for Kevin Durant, recovery from Achilles tendon repair surgery can take 8 months to a year for a full recovery, which means he will not be playing in the 2020 NBA season.

Was it worth the risk to play? The decision to play in Game 5 of the NBA Finals would have been a joint decision made by the medical staff, Kevin Durant and the team. However, while Durant’s original injury was referred to as a calf strain, the two injuries can be related since the Achilles tendon is the largest tendon in the body, connecting calf muscles to the heel bone. Often, the inflammation caused by overuse, can manifest as pain in the calf area.

Dr. Robert Grumet with Hoag Orthopedic Institute, spoke with ABC7’s Circle of Health about Kevin Durant’s injury and what recovery from an Achilles tendon injury can look like. One of Dr. Grumet’s patients also shared what her experience and recovery has been like from her Achilles tendon injury over the past several months.

Watch ABC7’s interview with Dr. Grumet here: