When Kevin Durant ruptured his Achilles’ tendon in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, it was as heartbreaking a scene there is to watch in sports. There is nothing more awe-inspiring than watching a player put everything on the line—not for himself but his teammates.
In one singular moment, the “cupcake” narrative that plagued Durant’s image ceased to exist as fans and media alike were forced to re-evaluate just how soft he was.
All this new-found sympathy and support doesn’t help everybody ignore the fact that a 30-year-old just suffered an injury that few have been able to overcome.