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Aug. 7 (UPI) -- Brooklyn Nets superstar forward Kevin Durant, who suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon against the Toronto Raptors in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, said he doesn't blame the Golden State Warriors for his injury. Durant told reporters Wednesday that the team never pressured him to return despite the Raptors leading the championship series.
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"Hell, no. How can you blame [the Warriors]? Hell, no," Durant said. "I heard the Warriors pressured me into getting back. Nobody every said a word to me during rehab as I was coming back. It was only me and [trainer] Rick [Celebrini] working out every day. Right when the series started, I targeted Game 5. Hell, nah. It just happened.
"It's basketball. [Expletive] happens. Nobody was responsible for it. It was just the game. We just need to move on from that [expletive] because I'm going to be back playing."
Durant, who turns 31 in September, signed a four-year contract worth up to $164 million with the Nets this off-season. He spent the last three seasons with the Warriors, winning two NBA titles and earning Finals MVP twice.
Durant originally suffered a right calf strain May 8 against the Houston Rockets in the Western Conference semifinals. Once he returned in Game 5 of the NBA Finals, he aggravated his previous injury and sustained a major Achilles tear.
The 10-time All-Star's injury came after he became the first player in league history to average 30 points per game on 50-40-90 percent shooting in a single postseason.
Durant underwent surgery to repair his Achilles in June. It remains unclear when the 2014 NBA MVP will return to the court.
