Damian Lillard’s recent non-contact lower leg injury during the Milwaukee Bucks’ playoff game against the Indiana Pacers was confirmed to be an Achilles tear. These kinds of injuries are the most complex for NBA athletes, as they need a lot of recovery time and may also result in a player’s career trajectory being completely altered. Who are some NBA players who have dealt with Achilles tears in the past?
Notable NBA Players Who Have Suffered Achilles Injuries
Kobe Bryant
On April 12, 2013, during a crucial game against the Golden State Warriors, Kobe Bryant tore his left Achilles tendon. Even after the injury, Bryant’s determination stood out — he made two free throws before limping to the locker room. The moment became a lasting symbol of his “Mamba Mentality” and resilience.
Bryant underwent surgery and a long rehabilitation process, returning to the Lakers on Dec. 8, 2013. However, his comeback was short-lived due to another injury — this time to his knee. Bryant battled through injuries for the next two seasons before retiring in 2016.
Kevin Durant
Kevin Durant, then with the Warriors, tore his right Achilles tendon on June 10, 2019, during Game 5 of the NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors. Durant had just returned after missing nine games with a right calf strain.
Twelve minutes into the game, Durant attempted a drive against Serge Ibaka, fell, and clutched his lower leg — a moment that stunned the basketball world. Dr. Martin O’Malley, who previously operated on Durant’s broken foot, performed surgery two days later.
The injury ended Durant’s season and heavily impacted the Warriors’ championship hopes, as they lost the NBA Finals in six games. Durant missed the entire 2019–20 season after signing with the Brooklyn Nets. He returned in December 2020 and immediately looked like his old self, averaging 26 points per game during the 2020–21 season and earning All-Star honors.
Klay Thompson
Klay Thompson tore his right Achilles tendon on Nov. 18, 2020, while playing pickup basketball in Los Angeles. He had been close to returning from a torn left ACL suffered in the 2019 NBA Finals.
The second major injury in back-to-back seasons hit Thompson hard, both physically and mentally. He later said: “It sucked, it was like the darkest days of my life really.”
“It’s because I love basketball so much. It’s my source, really. Just like the ocean, basketball has been my source since I was a child. That was a big test of my mental health, I learned a lot about how to stay mentally healthy through my rehabs. If there was a silver lining, that was it.”
Thompson worked through a difficult rehab process. He finally returned to the court on Jan. 9, 2022, scoring 17 points against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Later that year, he gifted his 2022 championship ring to Dr. Richard Ferkel, who performed his Achilles surgery.
Dominique Wilkins
On Jan. 28, 1992, Atlanta Hawks star Dominique Wilkins tore his right Achilles tendon. At the time, he was averaging 28.1 points and 7.0 rebounds per game and had recently been selected as an Eastern Conference All-Star reserve.
Given his age, 32, many thought Wilkins’ career might be over. But he started an intense rehab program, working out twice daily for nine months. Wilkins returned for the 1992–93 season, playing in 71 games and averaging 29.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists.
He earned All-NBA Second Team honors and finished fifth in MVP voting that year, silencing critics and setting a powerful example for injured athletes.
DeMarcus Cousins
On Jan. 26, 2018, DeMarcus Cousins suffered a torn left Achilles tendon while playing for the New Orleans Pelicans against the Houston Rockets. At the time, Cousins was averaging 25.2 points, 12.9 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game.
The injury ended his season and clouded his future ahead of free agency. In July 2018, Cousins signed a one-year deal with Golden State. He made his return on Jan. 18, 2019, scoring 14 points in 15 minutes.
Unfortunately, Cousins suffered a series of additional injuries, including a torn left quadriceps in April 2019 and a torn ACL while with the Los Angeles Lakers in August 2019. The setbacks prevented him from returning to his All-Star form. After stints with the Warriors, Rockets, Los Angeles Clippers, Milwaukee Bucks, and Denver Nuggets, Cousins transitioned to a reserve role, never fully recapturing the dominance he once had.
