The NBA Playoffs: Basketball's Worst Injury Strikes Three Times

The 2025 NBA playoffs will be remembered for all the wrong reasons. Three star players suffered the same terrible injury, torn Achilles tendons, during the most important games of the year.

The Injuries That Shocked Basketball

The first injury happened in Game 4 of the first round. Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard was chasing a rebound when he pushed off his left foot and suddenly fell to the ground. He grabbed his ankle and couldn't get up. The arena went silent as everyone realized something was very wrong.

A few weeks later, Boston Celtics star Jason Tatum was diving for a loose ball in Game 4 against the New York Knicks. He stayed on the floor, rolling around in pain while the game continued without him. Players and fans knew right away it was serious.

The worst moment came in Game 7 of the NBA Finals. Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton was having an amazing game, hitting three-pointer after three-pointer. Then he caught a pass and tried to drive to the basket. Instead, he ended up on the floor, slapping the court with his hands in pain and anger. His team's chance at winning their first championship was over.

All three players heard the same scary sound - a loud "pop" in their calf muscle. This is the main sign of a torn Achilles tendon. All three will miss the entire 2025-2026 season.

What Is an Achilles Tear?

The Achilles tendon is like a thick rubber band that connects your calf muscle to your heel bone. It helps you walk, run, and jump. When it tears, it's like that rubber band snapping in half.

This injury is especially bad for basketball players because they need to jump and change direction quickly. When the Achilles tears, players can't push off their foot properly.

The Long Road Back

Recovery from an Achilles tear takes a very long time. First, doctors have to do surgery to sew the tendon back together. After surgery, players wear a boot for several weeks and can't put weight on their foot.

The healing process usually takes 9 to 12 months. Players start with simple exercises like moving their ankle up and down. Slowly, they add walking, then light jogging, and finally running and jumping again.

Even after they return, some players never feel completely the same. The tendon might be weaker than before, and players often worry about getting hurt again.

Why Did This Happen?

Having three Achilles tears in one playoff is unusual. Several things might explain why:

Players are bigger and stronger than ever before, which puts more stress on their tendons. The NBA season is also very long - 82 games plus playoffs can wear down players' bodies.

Many Achilles tears happen after players have calf strains that don't heal properly. When the calf muscle is tight or weak, it puts extra pressure on the Achilles tendon.

Preventing Future Injuries

Teams are now looking at ways to keep players healthier. Some ideas include:

-Better stretching and warm-up routines before games

-Stronger calf muscle exercises during practice

-More rest days during the long season

Some fans think the NBA should make the season shorter so players aren't so tired. Others want the pace of games to slow down so players don't have to run as much. While all three stars face the same grueling rehab timetable, their long-term outlooks differ because of age. Tyrese Haliburton and Jayson Tatum are both still in their mid-20s, giving their tendons a better chance to regain full strength and their bodies more time to re-adapt to NBA speed. Damian Lillard, on the other hand, will turn 35 before he can step back on the court. Players in their mid-30s often take longer to rebuild explosive power, and an injury like this could accelerate the natural decline that comes with age.

The 2025 playoffs showed how quickly careers can change. Basketball will continue, but these injuries remind everyone how hard the sport can be on players' bodies.