The 2019 NBA Finals will always be remembered for Kawhi Leonards brilliance, but Serge Ibaka recently revealed just how terrifying Kevin Durant and his return for Game 5 felt from the Raptors perspective.
Ibaka recalled the moment he learned Durant would be back in the lineup with Golden State trailing 31.
Im like, Kevin, man. Come on. Thats the only time I already felt like I felt you know, I like to have the pressure, Ibaka said on the Hello and Welcome podcast.. Its good for myself, but that was not really pressure. It was like, Dang, I didnt know what to think during that moment. Thats Kevin D, man, Easy Money. Hes a killer. When they told us Kevin is coming back, because we were scouting the game. In the morning we came and the coaches started talking and then they say, Okay, KD might play. I was like, Oh, bro, come on. Let me win at least one, I need that. When we heard that, my mind just went crazy.
Ibakas fears werent misplaced. Durant came out firing, drilling his first three shots, including two from deep, and looking like he hadnt missed a step despite sitting out nine straight games. The Warriors went on to edge Toronto 106105, forcing a Game 6.
But the comeback story ended in heartbreak. Just minutes into the second quarter, Durants Achilles gave out. His season, and his Warriors career, was over.
Toronto went on to close out the series 42, but Ibakas words underline just how much respect Durant commanded in that moment.
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