Report: Teams expected to pursue Durant will stay in hunt despite injury

What could be a career-altering Achilles injury for Golden State Warriors star Kevin Durant isn't enough to scare off interested parties with the start of free agency just weeks away.

The New York Knicks, Brooklyn Nets, Los Angeles Lakers, and Los Angeles Clippers are expected to remain vigilant in their pursuit of the 10-time All-Star despite any uncertainty over his long-term health, sources told The Athletic's David Aldridge.

Durant exited Game 5 of the NBA Finals on Tuesday night early in the second quarter with what Warriors general manager Bob Myers later revealed was an injured Achilles. It was Durant's first taste of action since May 8 against the Houston Rockets following a nine-game absence with a strained right calf.

The 30-year-old forward was slated to undergo an MRI on Tuesday, with the Warriors reportedly of the mindset that Durant tore his right Achilles tendon.

He dropped 11 points and converted all three of his 3-point attempts in 12 minutes against the Toronto Raptors prior to being helped to the locker room at Scotiabank Arena.

Durant has a $31.5-million player option with the Warriors for 2019-20, which he'd need to opt out of to enter unrestricted free agency this summer.

The reigning back-to-back Finals Most Valuable Player leads all scorers this postseason with 32.3 points per game on 51.4 percent shooting in 12 appearances.