The Nets have no fear of Kevin Durant’s Achilles.

If that wasn’t clear in their signing of Durant to a $164 million contract, it is in the story of how it happened.

Brooklyn did take the injury into account, according to a report by Sports Illustrated. General manager Sean Marks had the Nets medical team watch video of the injury and examine media reports. When he asked whether they wanted to commit to a max, though, the entire room agreed that they should.

“That was a pretty moving moment,” Marks told SI. “When you know there’s a group of young men and women that are here saying, ‘Hell, we can’t wait for the challenge. We cannot wait to sacrifice whatever it takes to get (Durant) out on the court again and probably prove people wrong.’ Again, it’s that sort of chip on your shoulder. Kenny (Atkinson) and I talk about it a lot, players having that. But I think it’s also important that your entire organization has something to prove.”

Marks also said the Nets “did not have all the facts” while Durant was still under contract to Golden State.

According to the story, the Nets had been positioning themselves to make a splash this summer for quite a while. It was part of the reason they went for the playoffs this year instead of tanking, as the franchise wanted to be an attractive destination.

“We planned a couple years out that we could have an opportunity here,” Marks said. “I think when you have a window or you have an opportunity to swing for it and take a chance, take a challenge, and you can do it with the right people, that’s when you have to do it.”

Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie, a friend of Kyrie Irving’s, was in touch with the point guard throughout the season, selling Brooklyn as a destination. According to SI, the Nets were Irving’s favored destination as soon as the season ended.

As for Durant, playing with Irving was reportedly part of the appeal for him, though one decision wasn’t tied to the other. And despite the injury, the Nets went for it, scoring the biggest acquisition of the summer and a marquee win over their crosstown rivals.

“Whenever you can add this type of talent, you probably should jump at the chance to do it,” Marks said. “Especially guys that want to be here. Especially them.”