Warriors center Kevon Looney believes he will be able to play in Game 6 of the NBA Finals.
“They’re comfortable with me going out there as long as I can tolerate the pain,” Looney said (via Mark Medina of The Mercury News). “I feel like I should be able to play in Game 6.”
Looney was originally injured during Game 2 and at the time it was reported that he would be done for the series. He came back in Game 4 and played again in Game 5, but aggravated the fracture near his chest and rib and was unable to return. Looney underwent x-rays following the contest and “everything came back clean,” per the big man.
“They said nothing got worse, but it’s about me dealing with the pain,” Looney said. “I feel confident I should be able to play through it.”
Here’s more from Golden State:
- Prior to his latest injury, the Warriors were planning to offer Kevin Durant a long-term deal with the understanding that if the former MVP wanted to depart at any point during the contract, Golden State would accommodate that wish, Frank Isola of The Athletic hears. Isola adds that this type of arrangement could still be on the table even if Durant is forced to sit out the entire 2019/20 season.
- Andre Iguodala has hinted that he doesn’t have many more years left in him, but he’s confident he’ll return to the Warriors next season, as Anthony Slater of The Athletic relays on Twitter. “I’ll be here next year for sure, and I’m pretty confident that we’ll have our core back and we’ll try to make another run at it,” Iguodala said.
- Earlier today, Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports relayed that Durant wasn’t “anywhere close” to 100% prior to Game 5. Throughout the process of returning, Durant was experiencing discomfort pushing off his right foot, the scribe added.
I thought it interesting how Durant’s teammates all thought he was dogging it with a “minimal” injury during the playoffs. No kumbaya in Oakland? He should opt in, bank his 31.5 million and take the year off rehabbing just to dog them back!
Sounds like a bunch of fake news. Nobody claimed he was dogging it but the media.
No player has ever come back from this thing as good as they were before…….. What an enormous loss. Personally, for the team, for the league, for the fans…. Just tragic. Thoughts and prayers…
By personally, I of course mean personally for KD… not for me. Duh.
Lots of guys came back and played well after this kind of injury. Durant’s not a supremely fast player, so I gotta think he’ll be nearly as good assuming all goes to plan.
link to hoopsrumors.com
As much as I appreciate the link to a previous story of ours, I should clarify that that report was about ACL tears, not Achilles tears.
You can’t name a single guy who came all the way back… because there isn’t one.
Dominique Wilkins
Was never again remotely close to his former self.
How many top 3 players have had an achilles tear to begin with?
If you’re the Indiana Pacers would you still offer Kevin Durant a max contract?
Nope.
The type of “arrangement” the Warriors were discussing with Durant violates league rules, at least as written. No “arrangements” outside of the four corners of the contract are permitted, although they likely occur, it’s not wise to openly discuss them.
They aren’t saying they would release him, they are saying we will trade you if you want out. It’s 100% allowed. What’s not allowed is saying, we will hook you up with a crazy lucrative investment in this other company we own if you sign with us.
Dubs owner will pay them all. Screw luxury tax. Go for it. Best team ever…new arena..
So Haynes says Durant “wasn’t near 100%”. If he wasn’t and still had a tremendous start to game 5, what gives “experts” the surety that he’ll never be tremendous again after this injury.
Yes, he’ll probably never be the old Durant again but based on his performance at “wasn’t near 100%” he’ll still be great.
But I’m no expert…either.