NBA
The Most Common Basketball Injuries Among Players
Examining the most common basketball injuries among players from lower-body damage to important limbs that can get impact careers
LeBron James, Steph Curry, Anthony Davis, Joel Embiid, and Kevin Durant are all out with injuries now 😔 pic.twitter.com/k5m0UKbPLW
— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) March 21, 2021
As the news is currently discussing recent injuries in professional games, such as LeBron James’ recent ankle sprain, it feels relevant to go in-depth about some of the most frequent injuries in basketball. Pro players, college players, and even recreational players are easily exposed to injuries as a result of physical contact, short bursts of activity, and rapid stop and start motions.
As injuries are frequent, players need to prepare and protect their legs, feet, and hands, which are the areas that are the most vulnerable.
Ankle and calf sprains are by far the most frequent injury when playing hoops. Regardless of training and warm-up routines, they can still occur for a variety of reasons. Slippery ground, unstable landings, quick jumps are some of the most commonly quoted causes. Regardless of the reason, lower limb sprains require rest to heal.
LeBron James, who has suffered a recent ankle sprain, and Anthony Davis who is recovering from a calf strain, are planned to miss the next few weeks of games until at least May. By the time May comes around, we can expect doctors to have recommended the players to use kt tape for protection. The list of the best kt tape for any application is pretty long as the tape has proven highly effective to provide additional support during recovery.
Leg injuries, such as knee and anterior cruciate ligament tear, are more problematic as they make players more vulnerable to re-injury. Both the jumper’s knee and ACL tear tend to be caused by repeated stress as a result of rapid bursts of intensity. Unfortunately, the recovery journey can be long and painful, especially for players who have already strained tendons and muscles in the area.
Most players who have torn their ACL and have recovered enough to come back to further games have changed dramatically during the process. Danilo Gallinari was the Nuggets’ second-leading scorer, averaging 16.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 41.8% shooting per game. A 2013 injury removed him from the entire 2014 season and the rest of 2013. When he came back, he averaged 12.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 4à% shooting per game. The ACL tear changes players’ performance even after recovering.
Due to the nature of basketballs, finger and hand injuries are some of the most prevalent during a game. It’s not uncommon to witness dislocation and jammed fingers during a game. Most players, if the injury doesn’t require immediate medical assistance (if nothing is broken), will most likely continue to play after rapid, topical treatment. It is fair to say that there will be a post-game recovery period to help heal the hand or finger.
In 2020, Joel Embiid suffered a dislocated finger and left the floor at the end of the first quarter. He promptly returned for the second quarter, even playing with one hand to prevent a losing streak. The bottom line is that basketball injuries happen all the time. As much as we hope for LeBron James and Anthony Davis to come back soon, we have to be realistic about recovery times. It will not do their teams any good to have both men returning before they are fully healed!
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