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#3 Larry Bird
Just after the Boston Celtics' run of four straight NBA Finals between 1984 and 1987 ended with a loss to the Detroit Pistons in the 1988 ECF, the franchise's dynasty started to see its end early in the 1988-89 season.
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Larry Bird, arguably one of the three most influential players in NBA history (clearly one of the two most influential during the 1980s, along with Magic Johnson), had a relatively short career. Physical fitness back then was not at the level it is today, and Bird was already 23 during his rookie season, which meant he didn't have a long career.
In the sixth game of the 1988-89 regular season, Bird played only 16 minutes against the Miami Heat on November 15th, 1988, before his Achilles snapped. Bone spurs on both his Achilles required surgery, and Bird had to miss the remainder of the campaign.
Before the injury, Bird had averaged 29.9 points, 9.3 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game in the 1987-88 season. At the age 33, he returned for the 1989-90 campaign and put up 24.3 points, 9.5 rebounds and 7.5 assists per game in 75 appearances. Bird finished only tenth in the NBA MVP voting in his comeback season, but he did show that his basketball skills were not hindered by injuries.
He averaged 19.7 points, nine rebounds and seven assists per game in the next two seasons combined before retiring from the NBA in 1992. He had three All-Star appearances after his Achilles surgery in the 1988-89 season and one All-NBA selection.
#2 Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan's only major injury of his NBA career came in his sophomore season with the Chicago Bulls. Coming off an unbelievable rookie campaign (averaging 28.3 points per game), Jordan managed only 18 games in the 1985-86 season, with minute restrictions (and only starting seven of those regular-season matches).
A fractured bone in his left foot was the reason for Jordan's absence from most of the 1985-86 Chicago Bulls' games in the regular season. Nevertheless, the team managed to enter the NBA Playoffs as the eighth seed in the East, albeit with a dismal 30-52 record, 37 games off their playoff rivals Boston Celtics (67-15).
The Celtics predictably swept the Bulls in the first round, but Jordan put up performances for the ages in the first two games. In Game 1, he scored 49 points on 50% shooting, but Boston won by 19 points.
In Game 2, Jordan had one of his most iconic games, scoring a postseason record 63 points after making 22 of his 41 field goals. He also had six assists, five rebounds, three steals and two blocks while playing 53 minutes in the double-overtime game, but Boston again managed to eke out a narrow win.
Jordan could not lift the Bulls over one of the greatest teams in NBA history (maybe the greatest), but Jordan's comeback was definitely a success. Considering almost all the key achievements of his resume came long after his 1985 injury, there's no denying that the foot issue was only a small bump in Jordan's illustrious career. He won six NBA Championships and as many finals MVP awards, among many other accolades.
#1 Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant is not the only player on this list who fared better on the basketball court after a long-term injury. However, not many expected Durant's return to be as successful as it turned out to be in the 2020-21 NBA season at the age of 32.
KD looked like a truly refreshed player who seemingly could not do anything wrong on the court, and it was impossible to tell that he missed over a year and a half of action.
The voices calling Kevin Durant the greatest player in today's NBA were loud even when he was sidelined with an Achilles tear suffered in the 2019 NBA Finals. After missing an entire season (18 months), Durant's return with the Brooklyn Nets (a new team) had many eagerly waiting in anticipation of what he could conjure, and he showed his greatness quickly.
Even though he played only 35 games in the 72-game regular season, Durant averaged 26.9 points, 7.1 rebounds and 5.6 assists per game, with a 53/45/88 shooting split.
Then, he had a brilliant run in the NBA Playoffs until the Nets were eliminated by eventual champions Milwaukee Bucks in the second round. Durant had two games that were historical against the Bucks, putting up 49 points in Game 5, with 17 rebounds and ten assists, and only 23 attempts from the field.
In the deciding Game 7, Durant put up 48 points, nine rebounds and six assists, and made a game-tying shot to send the match to OT to save the Brooklyn Nets' season, at least in regulation.
Durant's successful return to the court after a long absence is surprising. It could give players like Klay Thompson the belief that he can also return at a great level after missing more than two years.
KD is one of the biggest candidates for the MVP award in the 2021-22 NBA season, proving his return has been a resounding success.
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