Kevin Durant's unfortunate Achilles injury was one met with plenty of trepidation around league circles, considering it's known to be the waiting tombstone for an NBA player's career. However, a league executive doesn't expect the Golden State Warriors star to dip out of the top 10 ranking of NBA stars, confident his talents will survive whatever athletic deficit he's forced to overcome with this injury.

“It’s not like he’s gonna fall from the top player in the league to number 50, even with the Achilles,” a league executive said Tuesday, according to David Aldridge of The Athletic. “Maybe he falls into the top 10. I still think KD is a guy that’s going to score 20, 25 a game.”

While Durant's athleticism is fused into his solid all-around game, the vast majority of it revolves around skill, length, and his fundamental approach to the game.

Others like Indiana Pacers shooting guard Wes Matthews and Durant's teammate DeMarcus Cousins have managed to return from an Achilles tear.

Related NewsArticle continues below
Warriors' Stephen Curry with Bob Myers, Mike Dunleavy Jr., Joe Lacob, James Wiseman, Jonathan Kuminga and Jordan Poole
Did Warriors’ two-timeline dreams close Steph Curry’s title window for good?
Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) warms up before the game against the Dallas Mavericks at Chase Center.
Warriors’ Stephen Curry reveals offseason plan with Draymond Green, Jimmy Butler

Given his position at small forward and the style of game he's patented over his 12 years in the league, Durant is likely to still be a dependable scorer, able to get his shot off at will.

He will have to make adjustments, like playing a more collected game within a half-court setting, no longer being that long-striding, lane-running threat in the fast break.

In a way, the injury could wind up sharpening his already lethal jumper even more, perhaps crafting himself into a 3-point specialist at this stage of his career, resuming as one of the most sureshot snipers the game has ever seen.