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Markelle Fultz’s recovery echoes how the NBA must change approach to injuries

By Philip Rossman-Reich

TORONTO,ONTARIO - JUNE 10: Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors consoles and injured Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors during Game Five of the 2019 NBA Finals at Scotiabank Arena on June 10, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
TORONTO,ONTARIO - JUNE 10: Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors consoles and injured Kevin Durant #35 of the Golden State Warriors during Game Five of the 2019 NBA Finals at Scotiabank Arena on June 10, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /
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The whole NBA world is examining how they approach injuries following Kevin Durant’s devastating injury. The league is entering a new era now.

All of a sudden everything stopped.

After a brief bout of noise getting caught up in the moment of Game 5 of the NBA Finals, the crowd at Scotiabank Arena went quiet as Kevin Durant stayed on the floor, motioning for help. Everyone on the floor knew something bad had just happened.

Durant had returned after missing nine playoff games with a calf injury. It always felt something more serious than a calf injury after he pulled up lame following a jumper without any contact. The immediate speculation was that injury was a hamstring or Achilles issue. Something far more serious.

The Golden State Warriors said in the aftermath that it was not as bad as it looked in that game against the Houston Rockets. They left the door open that he would return.

The pressure to make that return only grew as the Finals wore on. The Toronto Raptors were proving a much more difficult challenge. Fans did not understand the severity of the injury without information to go on and the “macho” culture of sport took over.

Durant took heat for sitting out with a legitimate injury. And that is always unfair. But the pressure to play persisted.

Desperate times seemed to call for desperate measures in Game 5 on Monday. Durant went through practice and got the go-ahead to play. His impact was immediate, scoring 11 points and making all three of his 3-pointers.

Early in the second quarter though, fate intervened. Kevin Durant tried to drive on Serge Ibaka and immediately fell over. Warriors general manager Bob Myers gave an emotional press conference confirming that Kevin Durant had injured his Achilles. The extent of that injury is still unknown, but everyone fears the worst.

At the very least, Durant has a long road ahead of him in his recovery as he faces the possibility he tore his Achilles.

The debate surrounding the NBA on Tuesday was not about the game — the Warriors shocked the Raptors with a late run to extend the series and send it back to Oakland one more time. Rather, the debate was about who was to blame for Durant’s injury.

And this will be a debate that only grows from here.

The only one who could know how healthy he truly was before the game is Durant. He had to listen to his body. If he felt comfortable playing and the team felt comfortable playing him, then there was no one at fault.

What has to change around the league — and quite possibly about society — is how others judge these medical decisions. Each individual should be allowed to have and make their own decisions in these cases.

Teams around the league are getting smarter with injury prevention and being proactive about injuries from wear and tear. The league itself is doing more to give players more rest and recovery than ever before.

Players and teams are taking new approaches to injuries. But the old school way of thinking — to “walk off” injuries or grit and bear real injuries to play for the team — still persist.

And that needs to change. There should never be an instance where anyone questions a player’s claims of injury. There should never be any outside pressure to play before the player most of all is comfortable to play and cleared by doctors and medical personnel.