Plan for injuries in today’s NBA. There’s no way to avoid them
The New York Times • • sports
Key Points:
- Injuries have become a major unpredictable factor in the NBA, significantly impacting team performance and playoff outcomes, with star players frequently sidelined due to various ailments.
- The league has seen a sharp increase in games missed by top players, with only 36 players missing fewer than five games last season compared to 97 in 2015-16, highlighting a growing injury crisis.
- The increased physical demands of the modern NBA season, combined with a fast-paced schedule and extended rosters, have led to more players being required to fill in for injured teammates, emphasizing the need for depth.
- NBA executives acknowledge that luck and health play a substantial role in team success, with the healthiest teams often having the best chance to win championships amid widespread injuries.
- The NBA is investing in medical research and injury prevention, but despite these efforts, injury rates remain high, making the "Great Randomizer" of injuries a defining element of the current NBA landscape.
