As the new National Basketball Association season (NBA) begins, several star players remain out due to Achilles injuries sustained during the previous season. Three NBA stars were injured in the postseason alone last season: Damian Lillard (Guard for the Portland Trail Blazers), Jayson Tatum (Forward for the Boston Celtics), and Tyrese Halliburton (Guard for the Indiana Pacers). Four other players were injured during the regular season. The number of Achilles injuries in the last season worried many fans and medical professionals.
The Achilles tendon is located in the lower leg, attaching the calf muscle to the heel bone, and it is the largest and strongest tendon. Achilles tendon ruptures occur when the tendon is placed under extreme stress. Ruptures range from a partial tear to a full tear of the tendon. Most ruptures occur during sports, with injuries occurring most in soccer, tennis, football, and basketball. The majority of ruptures require surgery for repair. The average recovery time for NBA Achilles injuries is around 10 months. It is doubtful that Lillard, Tatum, and Halliburton will return this season. There is currently no consensus among medical professionals and NBA players on the cause of the high number of Achilles injuries last season.
In response to the injuries the past season, NBA commissioner Adam Silver commented on an ESPN telecast, “we had seven this year. We had zero last year under the exact same circumstances. The most we’ve ever had in a season is four.” The league plans to take a closer look at Achilles injuries, even using artificial intelligence to try to find the reasoning behind the injuries. A panel was already formed to investigate prior to Halliburton’s injury. Silver disputes the claim that the season is too long and instead wonders if training in young athletes and off-season training causes too much stress on the body.
The Achilles injuries sustained last season reflect the trend of younger players becoming more susceptible to Achilles tendon ruptures, which have traditionally been common in older athletes. Orthopedic surgeon and chief of sports medicine at the University of Florida, Dr. Kevin Farmer, explains that this trend may be related to the development of youth basketball, causing excessive stress in many players throughout their lives. This wear and tear is why “[he] really think[s] we’re going to find out at some point that the way we’ve changed (youth sports), the risk, is why we’re seeing these younger athletes injured.”
Professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of California, San Francisco, Dr. Nirav Pandya told FOX Sports that the trend is alarming. Pandya argues several reasons why the Achilles injury is occurring more. Firstly, basketball has evolved into a more explosive and aggressive sport and the schedule is demanding on players’ bodies. Pandya also blames the mindset that many players have to play through injuries, which is dangerous. The upwards trend in injuries is something the league needs to look into, Pandya claims. He told FOX Sports “Nobody wants four to five star players being out and series being defined by these injuries that could be preventable.”
One of the many theories for the Achilles injuries is a lack of conditioning. NBA Hall of Famer Kevin Garrnet commented on his podcast that players “are not in the shape to play at this pace in the NBA.” He also recommends players focus on training their calves to prevent such injuries from occurring. A physical therapist at the University of Delaware, Karin Gravare Silbernagel, concurred with Garnett, stressing the importance of incorporating lower leg exercises.
Another theory several players and fans hold is that low-top sneakers, which is currently a popular style of shoes for players, increases the risk of Achilles ruptures. Former NBA player and current assistant coach for the Atlanta Hawks Nick Van Excel puts the blame on these sneakers, posting on X that he “think[s] it has something to do with them dam[n] lows the players wear nowadays.”
The NBA panel is continuing its investigation and has not reached any formal conclusion and findings. As the 2025-2026 season unfolds, Achilles injuries will be under a close watch.
Image Source: CNN