Retired NBA Legend Believes Warriors Are Hiding Something About Durant

It comes as no surprise that NBA fans and pundits are now focusing their attention on Kevin Durant following the Golden State Warriors' game one loss to the Toronto Raptors, 118-109, in the 2019 NBA Finals. Most felt that the game would have gone differently with the free-agent bound star, raising questions on when (and if) the former NBA MVP will suit up for Dub City.

Durant continues to be sidelined after suffering that calf injury in the NBA Western Conference semifinal series with the Houston Rockets. He did not see action against the Portland Trail Blazers and there were those who felt he would have healed up in time for the 2019 NBA Finals. But it seems that the injury is more serious than anticipated, meaning the only way Durant may return to action is once his doctors give him the green light, the Bleacher Report reported.

Until game one of the 2019 NBA Finals, the Warriors seemed well off with Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green stepping up in his absence. They are the perennial favorites against the Raptors but most forgot that Toronto is making the most out of its first NBA Finals appearance. Worse, Curry had little help. Only Thompson came up with numbers (21 points and 5 rebounds) while Green had a triple-double performance with 10 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 assists. Other than the Warriors' big three, no one produced significant numbers.

A look at the stats over at NBA.com shows the Warriors are missing Durant's averages of 34.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 4.9 assists. Those are big numbers that would be hard to fill and probably the reason why retired NBA star and TV commentator Charles Barkley has sided with the Raptors, USA Today reported. Even more interesting is that he feels that Durant may not be playing at all for the Warriors in the series at all.

Barkley is no stranger to making bold predictions although the Round Mound did add that all this was his personal opinion. Some are likely to air their side and hurl criticism at the NBA star who also previously predicted that it was the Milwaukee Bucks who would make the last dance.

But the key thing here is the extent of Durant's injury. Most know that there is a possibility that KD may be headed out the door this summer and that he needs to make sure he is healthy to land another lucrative deal. Hence and even off the court, the criticism has not spared Durant who is expected to be monitored by most as the 2019 NBA Finals progresses.