Top 5 Devastating Injuries In NBA History: How They Changed Players And Franchises Forever?
Injuries are a common part of the NBA, but the most serious ones don’t always come from direct contact—though an elbow or finger to the eye can be painful. Instead, they often result from quick movements, sudden twists, or abrupt stops on a hard court without protective gear.
Career-ending injuries rarely happen in a single, catastrophic moment. More often, they develop over time due to wear and tear or persistent issues that linger for years, eventually forcing early retirement.
5 Most Devastating Injuries In The NBA
Joel Przybilla
At first, nothing about Joel Przybilla’s landing seems alarming. His knee appears locked as he comes down awkwardly, but it doesn’t immediately look like a severe injury.
However, the pain hits instantly. A sudden shock courses through his body, leaving him helpless as he loses balance. With nowhere else to brace himself, he crashes down onto his right leg.
That impact proved devastating, causing both a patella rupture and dislocation—an injury far worse than it initially appeared.
Josh Howard
Watching an injury video isn’t always disturbing because of how gruesome it looks—sometimes, it’s a reminder of just how painful something as simple as a knee twisting the wrong way can be.
It’s why the entire arena reacts when a player rolls an ankle. That kind of pain is familiar to almost everyone, making it easy to relate.
Back in 2010, when Josh Howard sprained his knee in Chicago, it was one of those most devastating NBA moments. Most people haven’t needed surgery for a knee sprain, but nearly everyone has felt that sudden instability that leaves them on the ground, unable to move for a while.
Steve Nash
The true shock of an injury isn’t always in the moment of impact—it’s in what follows.
Steve Nash found this out when Derek Fisher hit him square in the nose, leaving it visibly crooked. The damage was obvious, his nose hanging awkwardly on his face.
But instead of heading to the bench for treatment like any normal player, Nash took a different approach. As cameras zoomed in, he simply grabbed his nose and shoved it back into place himself.
Tony Allen
Tony Allen’s attempt at showboating took a disastrous turn, leaving him with a moment he’d never forget. As he pushed forward with too much momentum, he lost control and landed awkwardly, causing his knee to buckle unnaturally beneath him.
The outcome was brutal—a torn ACL that sidelined him for months. Even after extensive rehab, he struggled with reduced mobility and flexibility, making his return to the NBA court a difficult battle.
Allan Ray
Allan Ray’s injury may have occurred during his college days, but it’s so unsettling that it’s impossible to overlook.
After taking a poke to the eye, the aftermath was horrifying—his eye visibly bulged out of its socket, completely dislocated. The injury was extremely shocking and almost ended his NBA career.
Top 5 Devastating Injuries In NBA History: How They Changed Players And Franchises Forever?
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