The 2024–2025 NBA season has seen an alarming rise in Achilles tendon injuries, with Tyrese Haliburton becoming the seventh player to suffer this devastating setback. The increase has raised serious concerns within the league, prompting NBA officials to take immediate action by assembling a panel of medical and performance experts to investigate the trend.
During the 2025 NBA Draft, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver addressed the issue publicly, emphasizing that the league had already begun its inquiry even before Haliburton’s injury occurred.
“Wе соnvеnеd a раnеl of еxреrtѕ bеfоrе Tуrеѕе Hаlіburtоn’ѕ lаtеѕt іnjurу. So fаr thіѕ ѕеаѕоn, wе’vе had seven Aсhіllеѕ іnjurіеѕ. Last season, we had none in a comparable context. The previous record for the most Achilles injuries in a single NBA season was four,” Silver stated.
Achilles Injuries Plaguing Stars Across the League
Among the seven injured players, four went down during the regular season:
- Jаmеѕ Wіѕеmаn and Isaiah Jackson of thе Indіаnа Pасеrѕ
- Dejounte Murray of the New Orleans Pelicans
- Dru Smith from the Miami Heat
The remaining three suffered Achilles injuries during the 2025 NBA Playoffs, including:
- Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics)
- Damian Lillard (Milwaukee Bucks)
- Tyrese Haliburton, marking him as the third Pacers player hit by the same injury this season
This string of injuries has alarmed teams, fans, and league officials alike, especially considering that several of these players are All-Stars and cornerstones of their respective franchises.
What Is an Achilles Injury — And Why Is It So Serious?
An Achilles tendon injury involves damage to the tough, fibrous cord that connects the calf muscles to the heel bone. It plays a critical role in running, jumping, and sudden explosive movements — all fundamental to basketball. Damage can range from partial tears to complete ruptures, both of which are career-threatening if not properly treated.
Recovery from an Achilles injury is infamously long and arduous, often taking 6 to 12 months. For elite athletes, that usually means missing an entire NBA season, and even after returning, regaining full explosiveness can be difficult. This uncertainty now сlоudѕ the futures оf Hаlіburtоn, Lillard, аnd Tatum for thе 2025–2026 season.
Is the NBA Season Too Long? Commissioner Silver Weighs In
With injuries on the rise, questions have resurfaced about the intensity and length of the NBA season. The regular season features 82 games, with additional games in the Play-In Tournament and Playoffs. Critics have argued that the modern NBA schedule may be taking a toll on player health, particularly with high-stakes games stretching deeper into summer and the trend of year-round training.
However, Adam Silver doesn’t buy into the theory that the number of games is solely to blame.
“If we look at injury data over the last 10 years, most Achilles injuries happen before the All-Star break,” Silver explained.
“So it’s not just about how many games we’re playing. Modern NBA players train harder during the offseason than some players used to during the season. These athletes are constantly pushing their limits.”
Silver also pointed out that the NBA has introduced a minimum games played rule (65 games) for individual award eligibility, which may affect how players manage rest and recovery.
NBA Turns to Artificial Intelligence in Search for Answers
To better understand the trend, the league is now leveraging artificial intelligence and advanced analytics to examine large-scale data. This includes injury history, player workload, biomechanical data, and in-game performance metrics to identify risk factors for Achilles injuries.
“We are working with data scientists and using AI technology to spot patterns that might be contributing to this issue,” Silver revealed. “The goal is to find actionable insights that will help us better protect our players.”
The NBA’s commitment to using technology and science to protect athlete health marks a progressive step forward in an era where player longevity is more crucial than ever.
What’s Next for the League and Its Stars?
The injuries to high-profile players like Haliburton, Lillard, and Tatum have cast a shadow over what has otherwise been a competitive and exciting NBA season. Whether the league will eventually consider adjusting the regular season format, limiting back-to-back games, or revising player load management policies, remains to be seen.
In the meantime, fans and franchises alike will be hoping for positive recovery updates and answers from the NBA’s ongoing investigation.
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