The NBA has seen a spike in Achilles injuries lately, especially during the most recent postseason. Damian Lillard, Jayson Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton all suffered season-ending Achilles tears, dooming their teams’ playoff runs.
With so many star players going down, many basketball fans and analysts have posited theories on what’s behind the rash of injuries, from overuse and shoe design to the length of the NBA schedule. The jury’s still out, but it’s likely a combination of factors contributing to these devastating injuries.
Boston Celtics legend Kevin Garnett recently shared his own theory on his basketball podcast “KG Certified,” calling out the players themselves for not being well-conditioned enough to play with the pace and intensity that the modern version of the sport demands.
“They do play at a fast rate, but I don’t think they’re in the tip-top shape,” Garnett said. “I don’t think the league is in the type of shape that you need to be in, the type of shape to play at this pace.”
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Garnett played 21 seasons in the NBA and had unusual longevity for a big man, so he knows a thing or two about staying in shape. However, the sport has changed considerably since his retirement in 2016, largely due to the rise in 3-pointers and the increased pace and spacing that have come with that.
Still, Garnett may be on to something. Perhaps players need to adjust their training and conditioning routines to account for the league’s quicker pace. While they may be in good shape generally, they might need to focus more on calf, ankle and lower body strength.
The offseason just started, so players still have several months to get themselves in shape and prepare for the upcoming season. Hopefully they use that time wisely to help avoid the same injury that will keep Tatum, Haliburton and others off the court for the foreseeable future.
