We Failed Kevin Durant

On Wednesday afternoon, Kevin Durant sent out an Instagram post confirming a successful surgery for a torn Achilles tendon. The recovery time for this type of injury, ranges from 9-18 months. The injury occurred in the first half of Game 5 of the NBA Finals. It occurred approximately a month after Durant had reportedly suffered a calf strain.

Double-Edged Sword

Durant’s post confirmed for some, the belief that his injury was initially hidden by the Golden State Warriors. A sizable group of fans and media members, groaned when Durant suffered his first injury against the Clippers, in round one. They pointed to the location where Durant reached for, insisting that it was an Achilles issue. However, the Warriors reported the injury as a calf strain, and proceeded to keep Durant out of the next eight playoff games.

In the age of social media, thoughts and ideas spread with the striking of a keyboard. The internet allows people to connect and share their interests or viewpoints, regardless of their legitimacy. It is a double-edged sword. Social media can be uplifting in times of need. However, it has given voice to fringe beliefs, allowing the community to grow with each passing retweet or like. Sadly, the sports world is where this has become ever-more present.

Conspiracy

The same lot who threw blame on the Warriors for Durant’s Achilles tear, questioned the significance of he is initial injury. Leading up to Game 5, social media continued to beat the drums of Durant’s lack of heart for continuing to sit with a calf strain. They continued to beat the drums that Durant continued to sit to prove that Golden State needed him to win. It boiled down to “sources” providing the rumors and fueling the fires. People were whipped up into a frenzy as the flames spread through retweets and likes. We decided, Kevin Durant should be playing.

Yet here we stand, days removed from watching one of the greatest players in the history of the league, go down with one of the worst injuries an athlete could suffer. The pundits have now decided that the Warriors are to blame. We’ve decided that the Warriors lied about the initial injury. All of this, without a shred of evidence, save for a guess based on the general location of a hand grab. Another case of the angry mob looking for Frankenstein’s monster.

What Comes Next

Is there a moral to this story? If you need one, sure, there probably is. I’m not here to give that to you. However, maybe next time, think before you question someone’s heart. Maybe take a time out from your bubble and turn off the YouTube conspiracy videos. These are real people who put their bodies through things many of us are unable to fathom.

Treat them like people. It’s that simple.

– Ryan Adverderada is the Managing Editor for Full Press Coverage Cardinals. Like and follow on Follow @ryanadverderada Follow @Cardinals and Facebook.