Tatum were beginning to emerge as dominant figures in the NBA during the regular season, but then came the postseason-and with it, unfortunately, injuries. Both players suffered Achilles tendon injuries that not only sidelined them for the final stretch of the recently concluded season but will also keep them out of a significant portion of the 2025-26 campaign.
With most of these injuries occurring among players in the Eastern Conference, the question arises: what exactly is going on? An NBA coach voiced his concern bluntly: “It’s the worst it’s ever been, again!”
Jayson Tatum’s injury derailed the Boston Celtics’ title hopes
As noted, Jayson Tatum suffered an Achilles tendon tear that crushed any realistic chance the Boston Celtics had of winning the NBA championship.
The injury occurred during Game 4 of their series against the New York Knicks and was particularly shocking because it happened without any contact from another player. It was a non-contact injury-one of the most worrying types in professional sports.
Doctors treating Tatum confirmed that the rupture will keep him out until at least the midpoint of the season starting in October. That’s troubling news for a Boston squad already struggling with salary cap penalties and luxury tax issues. The outlook for the upcoming season isn’t encouraging.
All signs suggest the Celtics’ championship window may have just closed, at least temporarily, with their star sidelined.
Tyrese Haliburton’s injury crushed Indiana’s dream run
Tyrese Haliburton’s luck couldn’t have been worse. His team, the Indiana Pacers, was battling the Oklahoma City Thunder for the championship and had reached Game 7 of the NBA Finals. That’s when disaster struck.
In the first quarter of the decisive game, Haliburton suffered the same devastating injury-an Achilles tear-that ruled him out of the contest and much of the following season.
He had been dealing with calf issues for quite some time, and in the end, it seems the strain became too much.
The league launches an investigation into the rising rate of Achilles tears
With the uptick in Achilles injuries across the league, the NBA has launched an official investigation to determine what’s behind this troubling trend. Last season alone, seven players suffered Achilles-related injuries- a deeply alarming figure by any standard.
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has assembled a panel of medical experts and specialists to begin a thorough review and uncover the factors contributing to the rise in these serious injuries.
Something must be done to curb a trend that has sadly become a recurring and damaging issue for the NBA.
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