The 2024-25 NBA season saw a troubling rise in one of professional sports’ most dreaded injuries: the Achilles tendon tear. What once felt like an infrequent, devastating blow became a recurring headline, particularly as the intensity of the playoffs ramped up.
High-profile stars were among the victims. Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard tore his left Achilles in the first round. Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum suffered a ruptured right Achilles in the second round. And in the NBA Finals, Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton tore his right Achilles in the decisive Game 7. The injury wave wasn’t confined to the postseason; centers James Wiseman and Isaiah Jackson, along with guards Dejounte Murray and Dru Smith, also sustained Achilles tears earlier in the season.
While Achilles injuries aren’t unique to basketball – USMNT forward Haji Wright and NFL quarterback Deshaun Watson are recent examples in other sports – the concentrated spate within the NBA this past season has prompted a closer look at contributing factors.
Medical experts and physical therapists point to a combination of factors, primarily overuse and the immense workload placed on players, as the leading culprits behind this surge in severe lower-leg injuries.
Why the Sudden Spike in NBA Achilles Tears?
Experts interviewed about the trend highlight several interconnected reasons for the increased incidence of Achilles ruptures this season.
The Toll of Overuse and Increased Minutes
Dr. Nirav Pandya, a professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of California San Francisco, notes that overuse is a significant factor, especially as the season progresses and the cumulative wear and tear mounts. This was acutely visible during the 2024-25 playoffs.
Compared to regular season averages of 25-30 minutes, star players were logging significantly higher minutes in the postseason, often hitting 39-40 minutes per game. Experts observe a known correlation: increasing playing minutes over a relatively short period (like 5 to 10 games) directly increases injury risk. The compressed playoff schedule and limited recovery time between high-intensity games likely exacerbated this risk.
The Burden of “Mileage”
Another factor cited by Dr. Pandya is the “mileage” on today’s athletes. Modern players often begin participating in high-level competitive sports at much younger ages than previous generations. This means that by the time an average 22-year-old player reaches the NBA, their tendons and ligaments may have already accumulated significantly more stress and wear compared to players from 30 or 40 years ago.
Strength Imbalances
Karin Gravare Silbernagel, a physical therapist and professor at the University of Delaware, offers another perspective: potential strength imbalances. She suggests that while athletes have greatly prioritized strengthening areas like the upper leg, the necessary foundational strength in the lower leg – the calf and Achilles – may not have kept pace. This could leave the Achilles more vulnerable to the extreme forces placed upon it. She compares this potential imbalance to the prevalence of hamstring strains seen in athletes five to ten years ago.
The Vulnerable Achilles
The Achilles tendon is inherently susceptible to injury dueically because of its function and location. It’s under constant tension, built for explosive power and speed, but this means it’s perpetually “wound up.” The forces transmitted through the Achilles tendon are among the highest in the body – multiple times body weight even during walking. For a large, powerful professional athlete running and jumping, these loads are immense.
When an Achilles ruptures, it’s not a simple tear. Dr. Justin Greisberg, chief of foot and ankle surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian and Columbia University Medical Center, describes it as an “explosion” that severely impacts the connected calf muscle, causing it to go into a state he calls a “coma.” While overuse creates vulnerability, sometimes the rupture can be triggered by accidental circumstances, such as a simple misstep, slipping on sweat, or landing awkwardly.
Calf Strains: A Warning Sign?
A common question is whether less severe calf strains serve as precursors to Achilles tears. While experts agree that a direct progression isn’t always the case, a deficit or weakness anywhere in the leg, such as in the calf muscle, does make the entire kinetic chain more vulnerable to other injuries. Therefore, fully recovering from calf strains is crucial to preventing further issues, as a weakened muscle cannot adequately handle high-intensity stress.
Do Painkillers Mask Warning Signs?
The role of pain medication is often debated in sports injuries. While common in professional sports, experts like Dr. Greisberg suggest painkillers are unlikely to be the primary cause of Achilles ruptures. He notes that the majority of Achilles ruptures occur without athletes experiencing prior symptoms – the injury seemingly happens “out of nowhere.”
The nuanced concern, according to experts like Dr. Michael Fredericson of Stanford and Karin Gravare Silbernagel, is less about the medication itself and more about its potential to interfere with an athlete’s ability to listen to their body. If intense pain is absent due to medication, an athlete might lose the protective inhibition that prevents them from overloading a potentially compromised tendon, increasing risk.
Preventing the Next Injury Wave
Given the severity and impact of these injuries, prevention is paramount for both players and teams.
For players, foundational strategies include consistent stretching, particularly for hamstrings and calves. Supportive footwear, such as traditional sneakers with a slight heel lift, can help reduce stress on the Achilles compared to flatter shoes. Crucially, targeted calf-strengthening exercises can improve tendon resilience. Athletes must also be acutely aware of any discomfort or pain and communicate it.
For teams, the season’s trend underscores the need to critically evaluate player management strategies. This involves closer monitoring of player load, ensuring adequate rest and recovery, especially during the demanding playoff schedule. Prioritizing basic strength and conditioning programs that focus on the lower leg is also key. Transparency between players and medical/training staff about physical status is vital to proactively manage risk. Experts emphasize that simply managing minutes and ensuring bodies are prepared for the rigors of the season and postseason is a critical step teams must take.
The Long Road to Recovery
An Achilles tendon rupture is a career-altering injury. Even with optimal medical care and rehabilitation, the typical recovery timeline before an athlete can return to peak performance is nine to twelve months. Experts caution that attempting to accelerate this process significantly increases the risk of re-rupture. Future breakthroughs in sports medicine may focus on mitigating the impact on the calf muscle following a rupture to potentially improve recovery outcomes.
The 2024-25 NBA season served as a stark reminder of the extreme demands placed on elite athletes and the delicate balance required to maintain their health. Addressing the interconnected factors of overuse, workload, conditioning, and recovery is essential to potentially mitigate the frequency of these devastating injuries in the future.
