Recovering from a devastating basketball injury is a journey that tests both the physical and mental resilience of a player. The initial setback can be disheartening, but the will to bounce back could make or break the career of an NBA athlete.
Some players retire early as they’ve lost the passion to continue while others simply step away because their bodies can no longer take the rigors of an NBA game.
But after decades of medical advancement, most devastating injuries are no longer career-ending. Time is the player’s best ally when it comes to recovery.
Today, we will list 10 NBA players who overcame career-ending injuries in their careers.
Shaun Livingston
Injury: Dislocated knee, ACL, PCL and Meniscus
Livingston suffered one of the most gruesome injuries in basketball history. In 2007, after attempting a fast break layup, Livingston landed awkwardly and snapped his leg left to the point where it was pointing in the direction it wasn’t supposed to be.
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Multiple doctors initially doubted his ability to walk again because of the severity of his injuries. Undeterred, Livingston approached rehab with the goal of playing in the NBA again. He worked tirelessly and got some opportunities along the way before landing at Golden State in 2014.
He then became a key member of the Warriors and won three championships with them before retiring in 2019.
Grant Hill
Injury: Ankle injury with life-threatening complications
Hill was projected to be one of the best players in his generation until an ankle injury in 2000 completely changed his career trajectory in the league forever. He missed a ton of games because the injury has developed life-threatening complications along the way.
Hill was determined to get his NBA career back on track and managed to stay relatively healthy in the latter part of his career. While he never became the player he once was, nobody in the world thought he’d play until 40 in the league.
Dominique Wilkins
Injury: Torn ACL
Wilkins suffered a devastating ACL injury during his prime years in the league. A torn ACL – which was uncommon back then – was widely viewed as a career-ending injury. Even Wilkins was unaware of the severity of his injury and pundits thought his high-flying ways were over.
But to everyone’s surprise, Wilkins returned with a bang and performed like the injury didn’t happen. He also took the time off to revise his game and added a dependable three-point shot to his offensive repertoire.
Paul George
Injury: Tibia fracture (leg) and torn labrum (shoulder)
While playing a scrimmage with Team USA, George suffered a bone-chilling injury after he jammed his right foot at the base of the backboard stanchion, causing his lower leg bone to snap and bend at a 90-degree angle.
Surprisingly, George managed to recover in just under a year. He regained his all-star form and continued to play at a high level in the subsequent years after the career-threatening injury.
Jusuf Nurkic
Injury: Stress fracture on the right leg
In 2019, Nurkic went down with a gruesome injury as he tried to tip the ball for an offensive rebound. His lower right leg was broken and it was a devastating sight to see for people who watched the game either live or at home.
Many people thought that Nurkic wouldn’t play again as the statistics for big men recovering from serious injuries like this one were somewhat slim. But after 16 months, Nurkic was back on the court again and played like nothing happened.
Klay Thompson
Injury: Torn ACL and torn Achilles tendon
Thompson never thought that after he tore his ACL in 2019, he would miss more than a couple of years of basketball. During his recovery from his injured ACL, Thompson suffered another setback in 2020 as he went down again with another devastating injury.
It was a huge deal for a player like Thompson, whose game relies on running and cutting to score. Although the road to recovery was bleak, he was undeterred and made a triumphant return in 2022, helping the Warriors win a title at the end of the season.
Michael Jordan
Injury: Broken foot
While we fondly remember Michael as one of the best ever to play the game, we tend to forget that he missed 64 games during his sophomore season due to a broken left foot in 1985. Back then, foot injuries were considered a tough nail to come back from.
Luckily, this injury happened when MJ was still young. While there were setbacks along the way, Jordan performed even better in the 1986 playoffs, scoring an insane 63 points against the Celtics in the second game of the series. He went on to become a global icon throughout his career.
Jamal Murray
Injury: Torn ACL
After suffering a torn ACL in 2021, Murray thought that he was ‘damaged goods’ and would no longer perform at a high level with the Nuggets. Right before the injury, Murray was becoming a legitimate star for Denver and was the second option of the team behind Nikola Jokic.
The recovery took a long time – 18 months to be precise – but Murray’s confidence never faltered. When Murray finally returned, the Nuggets finally overcame the hump and became NBA champions in the 2022-2023 season.
Alonzo Mourning
Injury: Life-threatening kidney disease
Mourning was one of the best big men throughout the 1990s. He was an excellent shot blocker despite being undersized at the center spot. But his career came to a screeching halt in 2002 when he discovered that he had a life-threatening kidney disease.
Badly needing a transplant, Mourning successfully had one after a distant cousin offered to donate one of his kidneys to save the big man’s deteriorating health. Not only did he recover but Mourning went on to play seven more seasons in the NBA after the operation.
Kevin Durant
Injury: Ruptured Achilles tendon
Durant has dealt with several injuries in his career, but rupturing his Achilles tendon during the 2019 NBA Finals was the most significant one he suffered. Not only did they lose in the finals, Durant also missed more than a year of basketball.
He was already 30 when it happened and doubts started to creep in whether he’ll be the same player or not once he returns. While he had suffered some setbacks in the subsequent years he has returned, Durant’s scoring prowess never wavered.
