The 2024–25 NBA season has seen an alarming spike in major lower-body injuries, particularly involving the Achilles tendon and ACL tears.
With Jayson Tatum now the latest superstar to suffer a torn Achilles, the list of high-profile players sidelined with devastating leg injuries has grown to nine, a troubling trend that’s shaken the league to its core.
– Jayson Tatum (Torn right Achilles tendon)
– Damian Lillard (Torn left Achilles tendon)
– Kyrie Irving (Torn left ACL)
– Dejounte Murray (Torn right Achilles tendon)
– Isaiah Jackson (Torn right Achilles tendon)
– De’Anthony Melton (Torn left ACL)
– Grant Williams (Torn ACL with meniscus damage)
– Moritz Wagner (Torn left ACL)
– Dru Smith (Ruptured left Achilles tendon)
Tatum’s injury, confirmed after Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Knicks, is the most recent and perhaps most crushing. The Boston Celtics’ All-NBA forward tore his right Achilles tendon late in the fourth quarter, abruptly ending his season and derailing Boston’s title defense. Tatum had been having an MVP-caliber year, and his absence now changes the entire playoff landscape.
Just two weeks earlier, another playoff superstar, Damian Lillard, also went down with a torn left Achilles in the first round against the Indiana Pacers. Lillard was carrying the Bucks’ offense alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo, and his loss effectively sealed Milwaukee’s early exit. With both Lillard and Tatum sidelined, the Eastern Conference lost two of its biggest postseason weapons in a span of 15 days.
Dejounte Murray was among the earliest stars to go down this year with a torn right Achilles tendon on January 31 against the Celtics. His absence sent the Pelicans into a downward spiral that they never recovered from.
Kyrie Irving suffered a torn left ACL on March 3. The Dallas Mavericks guard had become the secondary star next to Anthony Davis after Luka Doncic was traded to the Lakers. Irving’s injury not only weakened Dallas’ offensive firepower but also significantly altered their postseason ceiling. Without him, the Mavericks’ title window took a massive hit.
Isaiah Jackson of the Indiana Pacers was the first player this season to suffer a significant Achilles injury. He tore his right Achilles tendon on November 1 after playing just five games. His injury was an early red flag for what would become an epidemic of lower-body injuries across the league.
De’Anthony Melton tore his left ACL on November 20. Initially part of the Warriors, Melton was traded to the Brooklyn Nets but never had a chance to debut for them due to the injury. He was expected to provide guard depth and defensive energy.
Grant Williams went down just three days later on November 23 with a torn ACL and meniscus damage while playing for the Charlotte Hornets. His strong play early in the season had positioned him as a long-term piece in Charlotte’s rebuilding plans, but the injury sidelined him indefinitely.
Moritz Wagner of the Orlando Magic was next. On December 21, he suffered a torn left ACL in a game against the Miami Heat. Wagner had been a valuable bench piece, providing energy and efficient scoring.
Lastly, Dru Smith ruptured his left Achilles tendon on December 24, just three days after Wagner’s injury. Smith, a young guard for the Miami Heat, was carving out a rotational role before the injury ended his season.
The sheer number of serious leg injuries this season has become a league-wide concern. With three Achilles tears and four ACL tears among established NBA players, questions about player workload, court conditions, and medical timelines are resurfacing. Whether it’s due to offseason strain, condensed schedules, or pure bad luck, this has been one of the most brutal seasons in recent memory for player health.
And with Jayson Tatum now out until potentially the 2026–27 season, the league has lost one of its brightest stars at the peak of his powers, a gut punch for fans, the Celtics, and the NBA as a whole.
