25 NBA Careers Derailed by Injuries

Penny Hardaway

Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway was a superstar guard with a perfect blend of size, speed, and passing ability. A series of devastating knee injuries in the late 1990s robbed him of his elite athleticism and quickness. He was a shell of his former self and never regained the superstar status he had achieved early in his career with the Orlando Magic.

Grant Hill

Grant Hill was a superstar in every sense of the word, with a perfect all-around game and a Hall of Fame trajectory. His career was derailed by a series of ankle injuries and botched surgeries in the early 2000s. He later reinvented himself as a successful role player, but his superstar potential was never fulfilled.

Arvydas Sabonis

Arvydas Sabonis was a legendary center who was one of the most dominant players in the world. He was drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in 1986, but a series of devastating knee and Achilles injuries prevented him from playing in the NBA until he was 31. He was still a great player, but his prime was tragically stolen by injuries.

Tracy McGrady

Tracy McGrady was one of the most gifted pure scorers the NBA has ever seen. His career was significantly hampered by a series of back and knee injuries that sapped his otherworldly athleticism. While he had a Hall of Fame career, his prime was short-lived, and his full potential was never realized.

Yao Ming

Yao Ming was a dominant 7'6" center and a global icon. He was at the peak of his powers when a series of stress fractures in his feet and ankles forced him to retire prematurely. The strain of carrying his massive frame was too much for his body to handle, and his career was cut short just as he was becoming an MVP candidate.

Brandon Roy

Brandon Roy was an elite guard who was the face of the Portland Trail Blazers. He was on a Hall of Fame trajectory, but a degenerative knee condition forced him to retire prematurely. He was a smooth scorer and an all-around talent, and his career is a tragic story of a superstar who was never able to fulfill his potential.

Derrick Rose

Derrick Rose was the youngest MVP in NBA history, a player with unparalleled athleticism and explosiveness. A catastrophic ACL tear in 2012, followed by a series of subsequent knee injuries, robbed him of his elite athleticism. He has had a successful second act, but he was never able to regain his MVP form.

Drazen Petrovic

Drazen Petrovic was a sharpshooting guard who was on a Hall of Fame trajectory when his career was tragically ended in a car accident. He was a rising star with the New Jersey Nets and a dominant scorer. His untimely death robbed the NBA of a superstar and left a lasting void.

Bill Walton

Bill Walton was a superstar center and an MVP winner, but his career was defined by foot and knee injuries. He played only 14 games over a four-year period due to injuries, and his career was a series of stops and starts. If he had stayed healthy, he would be in the conversation for the greatest of all time.

Chris Webber

Chris Webber was a dynamic big man with guard-like skills. His career took a devastating turn in 2003 when he suffered a serious knee injury during the playoffs with the Sacramento Kings. He was never the same dominant player, losing the athleticism and explosiveness that made him so special.

Shaun Livingston

Shaun Livingston's career was changed by one of the most gruesome injuries in NBA history: a dislocated knee that damaged nearly every ligament. Doctors feared his leg would have to be amputated. While he miraculously returned and had a successful second act, his superstar trajectory as a high-flying point guard was tragically cut short.

Amar’e Stoudemire

Amar’e Stoudemire was a high-flying power forward who was a superstar in his prime. However, a series of chronic knee injuries and microfracture surgery significantly hampered his career. While he had a successful run with the Suns and Knicks, the injuries robbed him of his elite athleticism and explosiveness.

Danny Granger

Danny Granger was a versatile forward who was an All-Star and the face of the Indiana Pacers franchise. His career was significantly hampered by a series of chronic knee and foot injuries. He was never able to regain his All-Star form and was forced to retire prematurely.

Ralph Sampson

Ralph Sampson, a 7'4" center, was a generational talent who formed the "Twin Towers" with Hakeem Olajuwon. He was a four-time All-Star, but chronic knee injuries derailed his career just as it was reaching its peak. His mobility and explosiveness were never the same, and he was forced to retire prematurely.

Larry Johnson

Larry Johnson was a powerful and versatile forward who was a superstar in his early years. His career was significantly hampered by chronic back injuries that started in his second season. The pain and loss of mobility forced him to reinvent his game, and he was never able to fulfill his full potential.

Antonio McDyess

Antonio McDyess was a high-flying power forward who was on the verge of superstardom when he suffered a series of devastating knee injuries. The most significant was a ruptured patellar tendon in 2001 that forced him to miss an entire season. While he had a long career as a role player, his initial athleticism was gone.

Tony Allen

Tony Allen’s career as a scorer was altered by a single dunk attempt. After landing awkwardly in a game in 2007, he tore his ACL. He was never the same player on offense. However, he reinvented himself as an elite defender, earning the nickname "The Grindfather" and building a Hall of Fame-level defensive reputation.

Gilbert Arenas

"Agent Zero" was one of the most electrifying scorers in the league, but a knee injury and a subsequent bone infection in 2007 derailed his career. He was never able to regain his elite athleticism and scoring prowess, and his career was a series of highs and lows.

Paul George

Paul George's career was significantly impacted by a catastrophic leg fracture he suffered in 2014. While he has had a successful second act, the injury has limited his mobility and athleticism. He is still an All-Star, but he has struggled to stay healthy since the injury.

Lonzo Ball

Lonzo Ball's career has been plagued by a series of knee injuries, specifically a meniscus tear that has kept him out for over a year. He was an elite passer and a versatile defender, but his career has been derailed by his inability to stay healthy. His career is a sad "what if" story.

Gordon Hayward

Gordon Hayward's career was forever changed by a devastating ankle fracture he suffered in his first game with the Boston Celtics in 2017. The injury robbed him of his elite athleticism and explosiveness. While he has had a successful comeback, he has never regained his All-Star form.

Isaiah Thomas

Isaiah Thomas's career was derailed just as he was becoming an MVP candidate. A hip injury suffered in 2017 ended his season and significantly diminished his play. Despite multiple attempts to return to form, the injury robbed him of his elite athleticism and explosiveness, and he never regained his superstar status.

Jay Williams

Jay Williams' career was tragically ended by a motorcycle accident in 2003, just one season into his NBA career. He was a dynamic point guard who was the second overall pick in the 2002 draft. The accident left him with career-ending injuries and robbed the NBA of a promising talent.

Kawhi Leonard

Kawhi Leonard was on a trajectory to be an all-time great, but a series of injuries, most notably the Zaza Pachulia foul, have significantly hampered his career. While he has had a successful career, his chronic injuries have limited his playing time and have prevented him from reaching his full potential.

Klay Thompson

Klay Thompson's career was altered by two devastating injuries: a torn ACL and a torn Achilles tendon. He missed over two years of action, and while he has had a successful comeback, his mobility and athleticism have been significantly hampered. His career is a testament to his resilience, but his peak was tragically cut short.