Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum talks about Achilles injury and mental impact
Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum talked about all the emotions he went through immediately after tearing his Achilles tendon in the NBA playoffs.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo and Victor Wembaneyama are the only two NBA stars to miss games due to injury, but the problem appears to be getting worse.
- Athletes are running faster and farther than ever before, putting more stress on their bodies.
- Teams may take a more cautious approach, including resting players with minor injuries to prevent more serious injuries.
It was early in the season, but Giannis Antetokounmpo was playing MVP-caliber basketball. Also Victor Wenbanyama.
But Antetokounmpo tweaked his groin and Wembaneyama hurt his calf, and both teams, the Milwaukee Bucks and San Antino Spurs, played their games without them Thursday night.
Antetokounmpo and Wembaneyama are just two of the NBA’s biggest stars struggling with time lost due to injury, and the problem appears to be getting worse. Names like Anthony Edwards, Ja Morant, Zion Williamson, and Anthony Davis are also sprinkled throughout the list, hinting at a larger question: Does the NBA have an injury problem and what’s causing it?
Yahoo Sports compiled data from the first 15 games of the 2025-26 season and found that NBA stars have already missed 213 games due to injury, more than double the total from two seasons ago (100 games).
Similar to the discussion regarding Achilles tendon rupture, the primary cause of this rash is multifactorial and seems difficult to pinpoint. But while speed and pace are most often mentioned in conversations with league officials, the reality is likely more nuanced.
Physiques have changed over the past few decades, with athletes gaining muscle and losing body fat in favor of speed. This, combined with the continuous and sudden starts and stops of explosive movements, can put extra strain on muscles and tendons.
Additionally, the forward and center prototypes have been modified. They are expected to handle the ball, push in transition and stretch the floor with perimeter shooting. Essentially, they are asked to play like a guard in the big man’s body.
And coaches generally find fast break points to be the easiest way to gain an advantage.
“We’re very concerned,” Warriors manager Steve Kerr said on Tuesday, Nov. 19. “It’s dramatic, the difference in pace is dramatic. I think everyone across the league now understands that it’s easier to score if you beat your opponent down the floor and get out in transition. But when everyone’s doing that, the game is a lot more high-paced and everyone’s shooting 3s, so everyone has to cover to 25 feet.”
“We have all the data. Our players are running faster and farther than ever before, so we’re trying to do everything we can to protect them, but we’re basically playing games every other night and that’s not an easy thing to do.”
Kerr added that the Warriors’ training staff believes cumulative wear, pace, and how quickly players move are all contributing factors to the rash of injuries across the NBA.
Pace, distance and weight all play important roles
Increased pace, or possessions per 48 minutes, is often blamed as the main cause of injuries, but this requires further context.
It is true that the pace has steadily increased since the record low of the late 1990s (88.9, set in 1998-99). However, the pace of modern gaming is far from the best it’s ever been.
Through Wednesday’s game, the NBA’s average game pace was 100.5, a notable increase from last season (98.8) but comparable to the 2019-20 season (100.3), which ended in the Orlando bubble.
However, this season has fallen short of the league record pace of 127.7 set in the 1960-61 season (a 79-game season).
In fact, from 1956 to 1973, the NBA’s average pace never fell below 110.
However, one major difference from the 1960-61 season, when that record was set, is that the average weight of players in the modern NBA has increased.
Shaq says Wenby’s health is not a long-term concern and size is not a factor.
Ralphie Aversa sat down with NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal to discuss Victor Wembaneyama’s latest injury.
sports pulse
Another issue is travel distance and speed. Both NBA tracking data only go back to the 2013-14 season, but players are traveling longer distances and at faster speeds than previously recorded.
Entering Tuesday night’s game, players were traveling at an average speed of 4.43 miles per hour and traveling an average of 34.3 miles per game, the highest total since the league began tracking the data, according to NBA data.
A cautious approach can pay off
The final element of the question regarding games lost to injury is that teams may be wary of bringing players back from soft tissue injuries, such as calf or hamstring strains, for fear of risking a more serious injury. A study published in March found that calf strains and plantar fasciitis can be precursors to Achilles tendon rupture, especially if players return to the floor from these illnesses sooner than the average NBA player.
The NBA’s player health and safety staff is in constant communication with all teams to share data and findings. The league advocates the use of imaging and scan results to monitor the health of tendons and muscle tissue.
Teams may choose to take more proactive action, resting players at the first sign of discomfort or injury, rather than waiting for a more serious diagnosis.
On Monday, November 17, the Spurs announced that Wembaneyama underwent an MRI scan that revealed a strain in his left calf. The Spurs announced the injury occurred during San Antonio’s loss to the Warriors on Friday, Nov. 14. Not only did Wenbanyama complete the game, he played very well (26 points, 12 rebounds) and didn’t seem to be slowing down due to his injury.
