On April 27, Milwaukee guard Damian Lillard suffered a torn left Achilles tendon in a Game 4 loss to the Indiana Pacers. Lillard’s injury was the fifth NBA player on a standard contract to sustain the injury since rookie DaRon Holmes II went down in Summer League on July 12, 2024. Unfortunately, another name was added to the list as Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum tore his right Achilles late in Monday’s Game 4 loss to the Knicks. The six Achilles tendon tears suffered this season marks a new high for the devastating injury, passing the previous record of five set during the 2014-2015 season. Even worse, this lofty total doesn’t include the torn Achilles of Miami two-way guard Dru Smith or unrestricted free agent Thanasis Antetokounmpo who was injured in the offseason.
The Achilles is the conjoined tendon of the calf muscle complex, comprised of the gastrocnemius, soleus, and plantaris muscles. The calf muscles are responsible for pointing the toes and bending the knee. They also help stabilize the ankle and are essential in running and jumping, particularly during acceleration. Like all muscles, the calf and the Achilles tendon can be strained or l, in severe cases, tear or rupture. For the Achilles, this most frequently occurs with a single high-load impact often when accelerating or decelerating.
When a suspected Achilles injury occurs, the integrity of the tendon can be assessed using a special test known as the Thompson test in which the calf of the injured individual is simply squeezed. If the Achilles is torn, plantar flexion at the ankle will not occur. Although the accuracy of the Thompson test is significantly high, an MRI is often performed to confirm the findings.
Athletes who suffer Achilles ruptures usually opt for surgery to speed up recovery and because the approach offers the best chance at returning to high-level activity. However, the recovery window is lengthy and often results in a dip in productivity. A 2014 study examining Achilles tendon tears in the NBA revealed a return to play rate at nearly 80 percent. However, only 40 percent of the nine players classified as All-Star level talent returned to their highest playing level.
The average time missed for qualified NBA cases is roughly 10 months, ensuring Tatum’s recovery carries over into next season. Extending his absence for the entire season may be in his best interest considering the success Kevin Durant has had since his Achilles tear. Durant’s recovery, prolonged by the COVID pandemic and the subsequent schedule modifications, lasted 18 months (552 days). The extended recovery likely played a major factor in Durant’s five straight All-Star game appearances since the injury.
Determining why injuries as a whole are on the rise has been speculated on countless fronts. Pinpointing and addressing the multi-faceted issue could go a long way to reducing the sudden spike in soft tissue injuries, particularly Achilles tears. Unfortunately, time is necessary to implement any possible strategies, time in which players like Tatum and Lillard will spend rehabbing and recuperating.
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