Kevin Durant Shares Behind-the-Scenes Insight on Jayson Tatum Recovery - CLNS Media

Kevin Durant Shares Behind-the-Scenes Insight on Jayson Tatum's Recovery

In an exclusive interview with CLNS Media, Kevin Durant revealed that Joe Mazzulla and Jayson Tatum's mother reached out to him for advice after Tatum suffered an Achilles tear.

After the game in Boston, where Durant scored 26 points on 8-for-11 shooting at TD Garden, the veteran took a reflective pause. Now 37, he recalled how his own Achilles rupture in 2019 transformed his career and mindset.

“It was small, subtle changes, subtle tweaks,” Durant told CLNS Media. “But I felt like my bread-and-butter was my short to mid-range. I felt like I can still shoot the threes, the side-steps, the step-backs, that was cool, but I just felt like I had to be way more efficient and get closer to the rim.”

Durant demonstrated the adjustment by mimicking a shooting motion, explaining how minor refinements shaped his game. His recovery story became a model for other players facing the same challenge, especially given how few athletes return to elite form after an Achilles tear.

Durant, who missed 15 months following the injury, returned to average 26.9 points per game and earn an All-Star selection in his first 35 games back. Now in his sixth season since the rupture, he continues to post exceptional numbers — 27.8 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.1 assists while maintaining 53.1% shooting from the field and 41.4% from three-point range — performing as well as, if not better than, in his first twelve seasons.

Author’s Summary

Durant reflected on his Achilles recovery and shared his experience with Jayson Tatum’s camp, emphasizing subtle adjustments that helped him return to elite performance levels.

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CLNS Media CLNS Media — 2025-11-02

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