From 1990 to 2023, 45 NBA Players Suffered Achilles Tears — But 8 Have Already Occurred This Season

Achilles tendon tears have always been one of the most devastating injuries in basketball. Between 1990 and 2023, a total of 45 NBA players suffered this brutal setback, averaging out to roughly 1.36 Achilles ruptures per season. 

But something deeply alarming is unfolding this year: in just the past 12 months, the NBA has already seen eight Achilles tears, more than five times the historical yearly average. And the calendar year isn’t even over yet.

These are not just freak accidents or isolated to older veterans. The list of recent Achilles victims cuts across age, status, and position. It began quietly during the Summer League with Da’Ron Holmes, a promising young rookie, going down before even making his NBA debut. 

Then came the regular season, where Dejounte Murray, Isaiah Jackson, James Wiseman, and Dru Smith all suffered Achilles tears, three of whom are under 26 and were expected to be part of their teams’ future rotations.

But things escalated sharply in the playoffs. In an unprecedented postseason blow, three All-Star caliber players, Damian Lillard, Jayson Tatum, and Tyrese Haliburton, were each diagnosed with torn Achilles tendons. 

All three were in the middle of deep playoff runs, with Tatum going down in the Conference Finals and Haliburton in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. These injuries not only ended their seasons but also dramatically shifted the trajectories of their franchises.

The sheer volume of Achilles tears this season has sparked concern among players, coaches, and sports medicine professionals alike. Is it a coincidence, or is something systemic going wrong?

While some have pointed fingers at load management policies or training regimens, others believe the shortened offseason, increased pace of play, and the overall wear-and-tear of back-to-back condensed seasons post-pandemic are finally taking their toll. 

Another theory suggests that the increasingly explosive nature of modern basketball, with more high-speed cuts, deceleration, and rapid directional changes, is placing unprecedented strain on players’ lower extremities.

What’s most worrying is that Achilles injuries often carry long-term consequences. Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant, and DeMarcus Cousins are some of the most high-profile names to have suffered the injury, and each required extensive rehab. For some, like Bryant, it marked the start of physical decline. For others, like Cousins, it derailed what could’ve been a Hall of Fame trajectory.

It’s important to note that this list only includes confirmed Achilles tears and excludes ACL injuries, which are a different kind of trauma altogether. While ACLs often grab headlines due to the nature of knee instability, Achilles tears arguably present a more difficult path to full recovery, especially for players whose game relies on explosive bursts and elevation.

If this pace continues, 2024-25 may go down as the most Achilles-plagued season in NBA history. The league, teams, and training staffs may need to take a long, hard look at their protocols, because eight Achilles injuries in one season isn’t just an outlier anymore. It’s a red flag.