The sound of an Achilles tendon snapping is something no athlete ever wants to hear. For Jayson Tatum and Damian Lillard, that nightmare became reality during the 2025 playoffs. Now they face the same grueling recovery that has derailed countless careers. But there’s one voice they should listen to above all others: Kevin Durant, the man who’s been exactly where they are now.
How Does Durant’s Recovery Advice Apply to Tatum and Lillard?
Durant made a rare podcast appearance on LeBron James’ show, “Mind the Game.” He discussed the importance of mid-range shooting, as well as how Tatum and Lillard should approach their injury recovery. He believes that the recovery could be easy on the players, provided they accept the harsh reality of their situation.
“It’s easy. I think it’ll be easy for them to lock in on once they truly grasp that like, ‘I’m going to be out for a year.’ And I think initially, that takes a few weeks for you to truly understand. It’s probably the first time in their whole lives they got to sit down and not play sport. They physically can’t play. Yeah. That’s probably the first time they had to go through that,” the Rockets star said.
Durant’s comments carry significant weight and wisdom. As a player who went through the same mental struggle while sitting on the sidelines, Durant understands exactly what it’s like for an athlete to be unable to participate in sports. This is especially true for both players who haven’t dealt with any serious injuries before this setback. The mental toll of staying away from basketball can be overwhelming.
Additionally, Durant emphasized that this period will be crucial for both players, but he has faith in their ability to overcome the challenge.
“You can either elevate or drown, in my opinion. And I think both of those dudes have shown you time and time again that they going to continue to elevate, you know, as individuals and as players,” he explained. “But it’s a grind, man. I’m still doing some of the stuff that I was doing in that rehab. So, your game and your body is going to for sure change.”
The path back to normalcy won’t be easy or quick. Tatum and Lillard must remain patient, taking it one day at a time to ensure they don’t aggravate the injury while learning how to use this time to strengthen their mindset.
As Durant mentioned, the mental aspect can be particularly challenging. The Boston Celtics superstar has been open about his struggles, admitting how difficult the road to recovery has been. It will take considerable time for him and Lillard to even start walking without the help of a boot, let alone return to playing basketball.
Meanwhile, Haliburton was also recently officially ruled out for the entire 2025-26 season with an Achilles injury.
Only time will tell how Tatum and Lillard are progressing, as there’s a possibility that both players may be shut down for the upcoming season as well, as a precautionary measure.
What Makes Durant the Perfect Mentor for Achilles Recovery?
Achilles injuries have become a recurring nightmare for NBA superstars, sidelining some of the league’s biggest names for months at a time. The most recent players to join this unfortunate club are Tatum and Lillard, who both suffered Achilles injuries during the 2025 playoffs. Tyrese Haliburton also tore his Achilles tendon during the NBA Finals against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
However, one player who has successfully climbed back from this devastating setback is Kevin Durant. The 15-time All-Star tore his Achilles during the 2019 NBA Finals when the Golden State Warriors faced the Toronto Raptors. The injury helped crush Golden State’s championship hopes, as Kawhi Leonard captured his second and Toronto’s first championship ring.
Durant got hurt while trying to dribble on the right wing in Game 5. Although it wasn’t exactly clear at the time, fans feared the worst when Durant was clutching his calf in pain. Everyone knew the dream of a third consecutive Warriors championship ring was slipping away. There were even concerns that Durant had returned too early, having suffered an injury just a month prior.
Since that devastating moment, he has played for two different teams (Brooklyn Nets, Phoenix Suns) and is now making his way to the Houston Rockets. Although he doesn’t have silverware to show for it since his return, it’s no secret that Durant has bounced back remarkably well from the career-threatening injury. If anyone could help players suffering the same fate, it would be the two-time NBA champion. Even he seems to think he’s become the “Achilles guy.”
