Kevin Durant: How Nets Star Helped Klay Thompson Recover From Injury

• Klay Thompson has revealed he received a helping hand from Kevin Durant while recovering from his Achilles injury
• Thompson tore his Achilles in November 2020 and missed the entire 2019/2020 season
• The 32-year-old returned to action in January last year and helped the Warriors win the 2022 NBA title

Klay Thompson has revealed how former Golden State Warriors teammate Kevin Durant helped him recover from a serious Achilles injury he sustained in late 2020.

The 32-year-old missed all of the 2019/2020 season after tearing the ACL in his left knee during Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors.

Thompson made an incredible recovery. He returned to NBA action in January last year and helped the team clinch their fourth title in eight years in June, per ESPN.

Durant also suffered an Achilles injury in the same series against the Toronto Raptors. However, the 34-year-old is yet to return to the NBA Finals. Still, he has shown that he can take the Brooklyn Nets all the way.

Most fined player in the NBA. Who is the most fined player in the league?

NBA

Durant assist to Thompson

According to the Athletic, Durant received a text from the late great Kobe Bryant who tore his Achilles in 2013, aged 34.

Durant spoke to Thompson after he tore his Achilles and the Warriors guard said things were tough for him in the first few days of the recovery, but his family, friends and Durant helped him pull through the difficult moments.

“To see him be an all-NBA guy and almost average d@mn near 30, it gave me a lot of confidence that if I put the work in, I would (get back to playing like) myself.”

The 2-time NBA champion said he spoke to Thompson about the injury in detail.

“We talked about the (rehab) process. Every time I’m talking to Klay, [I’m] like, ‘How’s your calf looking? Are you able to go up and do a toe raise yet?’ And that’s really when you start to come back, when you can put all your body weight on your toe and raise up.”

Cristiano Ronaldo's transfer: Is CR7 leaving Manchester United and which clubs are likely to acquire him?

Football

Since returning from the injury, the 2014 NBA MVP picked up where he left off. This season, he's averaging 29.9 points 6.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists in 37 games this season, per Stat Muse.

Durant leaves Mbappe speechless

Sports Brief earlier reported on Kylian Mbappe's priceless reaction to Durant's tough shot against the San Antonio Spurs.

Mbappe was seated courtside with PSG teammate and close friend Achraf Hakimi a day after their team lost 3-1 on New Year's Day to Lens.

With two minutes left in the third quarter, Durant drove at the Nets defense and briefly lost the ball but recovered it before firing a difficult fadeaway jump shot to extend their lead to 101-99.