Kevin Durant, the man who whispers in the ear of ruptured Achilles tendon victims

Besides growing up in the same state, Maryland, Kevin Durant and justin moore, a priori, do not have much in common, and it seems that nothing really can create a very strong connection between them. The first, one of the best strikers of all time, is slowly but surely approaching the end of his career, while the second is expected to start with him when his university years at Villanova are over.

Until tonight in April 2022, that changed everything. As Villanova defeated Houston to advance to the March Madness “Final Four”, Justin Moore broke down in tears on the bench at the final whistle. Minutes earlier, in a completely innocuous act, the Wildcats winger actually ruptured his Achilles tendon. A cruel injury that will require a long period of recovery, and at that time has weakened him in his tracks in the last step of the season, on the verge of the title, while he is doing the best exercise of his career at the university ( 14.8 points and 4.8 rebounds).

Grief and bitterness gone, the Villanova player can quickly turn to the future, and the rehabilitation process that awaits him. Jay Wright, the legendary coach of the Wildcats, now retired, personally called “KD”, whom he knew from their various campaigns together with Team USA, to ask him to advise his player.

” You will come back stronger than ever, I assure you” Durant was launched in Justin Moore, is still recovering and hasn’t played yet this season. ” But he told me to take my time. He encouraged me a lot.” continued the Villanova winger. “I regained my optimism, because one of the best players in our sport told me that I had nothing to worry about. »

” I just want him to know that I’m there for him the Nets winger confirmed. ” His career has not yet begun. I’m almost done with mine! I could have retired by then. So I was well placed to understand his psychological state, and his questions about the future. So I tried to calm him down, and let him know that he could come back, and that in the end it was just a psychological block to overcome. »

Kevin Durant, the new Dominique Wilkins

This is Dominique Wilkins Himself who said it, and he knows what he’s talking about. We remember that the former Hawks icon, after rupturing his Achilles tendon in January 1992, was back in business… just 9 months later! Succeeds, like Kevin Durant, to maintain the same level in his return.

” When you hear about Achilles tendon injuries in the NBA, this is the first name that comes to mind. “Also makes sure” KD “.” A top player who has bounced back and is back at the same level as before the injury. So it was definitely a motivation and an inspiration, to tell myself that I can do it too. »

At that time, the native of… Paris was an example to follow, and a moral support for those who suffered the same injury. Almost thirty years later, he sees Kevin Durant as his heir, from this point forward.

” Durant took that responsibility, he became the spokesperson for that injury. So in a way, it’s a transfer of power. We have quite a bit in common here. judging the “Human Highlight Film”.

Nope Clay Thompson who would say otherwise, who was also cruelly cut short in his tracks by this injury, at the start of the 2020 school year when he was just recovering from his torn cruciate ligament of the left knee. Earlier this week, the “Splash Brother” rightly paid tribute to Dominique Wilkins, after signing his best game since his return, a 54-point performance against the Hawks.

” That was huge for my confidence The Warriors’ backs were revealed in this performance. ” I talked to Dominique Wilkins before the game, I told him he’s been a great inspiration, coming back like he did after a decade in the league. When I went through moments of doubt, where I didn’t know if I would ever make it back, I thought of him. »

Before recalling the importance of Durant, his former teammate, in this whole manner of the cross. ” When you see someone like him come back and put up 30 points every night like he’s not hurt, it boosts morale and gives you the confidence to keep working. concluded Thompson.