The 6-foot-8 forward, who would be a free agent that summer, had surgery five days later with hopes of returning to action in six months. 18, 2017, while playing for the Sacramento Kings. Gay can relate to Durant’s pain, as he suffered a full tear of his left Achilles tendon on Jan. It’s just like a Fireball shot running through your body,” Gay said. Gay said he knew immediately that Durant had suffered a torn Achilles tendon. Gay watched on television from Milan in the early hours of the morning when Durant suffered the injury.

“He hit me back and was appreciative,” Gay told The Undefeated over the phone from Milan. NBA veteran Rudy Gay sent Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant that message and other encouraging words via Instagram the day after Durant injured his right Achilles tendon during Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Monday.