Why has there been a rise in the number of Achilles tendon injuries in the NBA in recent months? According to one of the league’s legendary players, one of the causes is the wear and tear that comes from youth basketball.
Are AAU Youth Programs To Blame For Recent NBA Achilles Injuries?
Dominique Wilkins knows a thing or two about suffering a ruptured Achilles tendon. The nine-time All-Star and Top 75 Player of all time had his 1991-92 season cut short by the ailment, but was able to return to MVP-candidate status after his recovery. He recently spoke out about his experience, and gave his opinion on why the injury is more prevalent in today’s game (via The Athletic):
“Ain’t no question it’s the wear and tear. AAU and all that stuff at a very early age, they never give their bodies a chance to rest.”
The Amateur Athletic Union is a youth developmental program that many young and gifted athletes participate in. The basketball circuit is most notably popular, with many of today’s NBA stars having been a part of it in their early days. It forces many of the players to compete at a high level nearly year-round, which puts extra mileage on their legs and bodies before they even enter their college days.
We saw an unusually high number of players suffer ruptured Achilles tendons during the most recent postseason. In the first round, Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard went down, and Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum saw his playoff run cut short as well. Then, in Game 7 of the NBA Finals, Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers suffered the same fate, which was likely caused by pushing through a different leg injury.
Man. Don’t know how to explain it other than shock. Words cannot express the pain of this letdown. The frustration is unfathomable. I’ve worked my whole life to get to this moment and this is how it ends? Makes no sense.
Now that I’ve gotten surgery, I wish I could count the… pic.twitter.com/UyY0iFEp6Z
— Tyrese Haliburton (@TyHaliburton22) June 24, 2025
All three players are expected to miss significant time during the 2025-26 season. There is a likelihood that Haliburton won’t even see the court next year.
Another theory for the cause is player shoe choices. Instead of high-top and mid-quarter cuts on basketball sneakers, more players are opting to go with low-tops, which some have suggested is having an adverse effect on leg health.
While the trio of Lillard, Tatum, and Haliburton are all expected to make full recoveries, there is data to show that most players never fully regain their previous form. Guys like Kobe Bryant, Klay Thompson, and Kevin Durant all saw dips in their player efficiency ratings upon returning from Achilles injuries.
