Compared to Kobe, KD, Klay Tatum is young and has a % less injury history; the surgeon is the same as KD

(The original text was published on May 14, and the author is StephaniaBell of ESPN website. The content of the article does not represent the translator's opinion)

In just a few weeks, another NBA star fell to the ground due to a ruptured Achilles tendon.

When playing against the Pacers in the first round of the playoffs on April 27, Bucks guard Lillard suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon; on May 12, Celtics forward Tatum also suffered a heavy blow in the G4 of the Eastern Conference semi-finals. When Tatum was helped off the court, his injured right leg was completely unable to bear the load, and his face was full of pain and collapse. He then returned to the locker room in a wheelchair for examination, perhaps just to confirm his well-known diagnosis.

Achilles tendon rupture has distinct identification characteristics. The bursting sound of the moment of injury often makes athletes look back in panic, thinking that they are attacked by external forces, and then they will realize that the situation is serious. Most players immediately lose their ability to walk. If they forcefully try, they will drag their injured legs flat against the ground and move them stiffly because they cannot push the ground.

Achilles tendon is the bond connecting the calf muscles to the foot (through the heels). When the calf muscles contract, energy is transmitted through the tendons, pushing the foot away from the ground. Its strength may be as low as the body moves forward while walking, or it may be as fierce as the dunk. Due to repeated actions such as jumping, running, and turning around, NBA players' Achilles tendons are under a huge load. These actions cause the tendon to circulate between repeated stretching and explosive contraction, which may lead to acute inflammation and ultimately trigger chronic structural changes within the tendon.

Most Achilles tendon ruptures are just like when Tatum is injured: when the player retreats in a lunge position, the Achilles tendon at the hind leg is in a stretched state, and then pushes the ground through the hind foot. Just as the tendon changed from extreme lengthening to rapid shortening, the rupture occurred.

In the elite athlete population, surgical repair of ruptured Achilles tendon is the standard treatment. Although some people were surprised that Tatum had undergone surgery less than 24 hours after his injury, this time was actually the ideal time. A study published in the journal Knee Surgery, Sports Trauma and Arthroscopy in 2020 confirmed the benefits of rapid repair, pointing out that patients who underwent surgery within 48 hours after injury had better recovery in biomechanical and microstructure. Although this timeline is not always possible, it is generally believed in the sports medicine community that delays should be avoided as much as possible to maximize Achilles tendon healing.

In the early stages of the postoperative period, Tatum will receive short-term cast fixation to protect the repair site. After removing the gypsum, you can start early limited activities. It is necessary to maintain the mobility of the ankle joint, and to avoid excessive pulling of the repaired area. The elasticity of the Achilles tendon is its functional core. If the repair site is excessively stretched, it is like stretching a rubber band until it loses its rebound performance. The rehabilitation process also includes the gradual introduction of light strength training, incremental weight loading, and ultimately the transition from plaster or protective boots to normal sneakers. After the repaired part is fully healed, more significant joint activity training will be carried out, and then ground running, jumping, agility training and explosive movements will be restored, and finally return to basketball special training. Athletes usually need 6 months to 1 year to resume their competitive state. The average recovery period of NBA players is 10 months. The specific length depends on the individual healing status, physical fitness recovery progress and season schedule.

In this process, the athlete's psychological recovery cannot be ignored. The suddenness and complete disability of the Achilles tendon rupture often cause the injured to fall into anxiety about "can you return to the pre-injury state" in the early stage of recovery. Even if you make a successful comeback, your competitive level may lag and recover later. Only when athletes can participate in the competition stably can leg strength and confidence be rebuilt simultaneously. Most players who have undergone Achilles tendon repair admitted that they did not fully regain their explosive power until their second season after their comeback.

27-year-old Tatum has an age advantage and a rare history of injury, which creates favorable conditions for recovery. In addition to timely surgery, Dr. Martin O'Malley, a top expert in foot and ankle surgery, was also the specialty hospital of special surgery. The doctor, who also serves as a member of the Nets' medical team, has handled numerous NBA cases, including Durant's Achilles tendon repair surgery in 2019. Durant's performance of returning to the top after injury will inject confidence into Tatum's long recovery journey.

The following are several players who are more valuable for Tatum:

Kobe Bryant: As the most famous case of Achilles tendon rupture in the NBA, 34-year-old Kobe suffered an Achilles tendon rupture before the 2013 playoffs and returned in December after undergoing surgery in April of the same year. Although the return speed is amazing, its explosive power has obviously declined. The following year he was reimbursed for shoulder surgery season, and the subsequent 2015-16 season became his career masterpiece.

Klay-Thompson: The special feature of the Clay case is that the rupture of the AChill tendon occurs during the recovery period of the ACL. After suffering a torn anterior cruciate ligament in the left knee in the 2019 Finals, Clay missed the entire 2019-20 season. Just as he was about to make a comeback in the 2020-21 season, he suffered another tear of his right Achilles tendon. The 31-year-old Clay finally returned in the middle of the 2021-22 season, and his playing time and shooting efficiency both declined. However, the rebound was coming the following year, with an average of 4 minutes of playing time per game, and both three-point shooting and rebounding numbers hit career highs.

Kevin Durant: During his 2019 Warriors, Durant suffered a right Achilles tendon tear in the finals. It is worth noting that during the recovery period, Durant signed a four-year contract with the Nets, demonstrating the team's belief in his return to the top. Durant missed the entire 2019-20 season, but showed strong form when he returned the following year. Although Durant only played 35 games due to other injuries this season, he would regain his true nature as a "God of Death" as long as he appeared on the court. Perhaps the 18-month rehabilitation window after the injury achieved excellent data when Durant made his comeback. Durant proved with his actual performance that NBA players over 30 can still return to their pre-injury competitive level after a ruptured Achilles tendon.

Original text: StephaniaBell

Compiled by: Li Taibai