NBA Forms Expert Panel to Probe Achilles Injuries

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By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

The NBA confirmed that it already organized a panel of experts that would deep dive into the rising cases of torn Achilles tendon injuries announced on June 26, 2025.

After four Achilles tears in the regular season and another three in the playoffs, NBA commissioner Adam Silver said that the league already convened a group of medical personnel that could help determine the root cause of the season-ending injury.

“We had seven this year. We had zero last year under the exact same circumstances. The most we’ve ever had in a season is four,” said Silver.

In the regular season, players who suffered the devastating injury were New Orleans Pelicans’ star point guard Dejounte Murray, Indiana’s frontcourt duo James Wiseman & Isaiah Jackson, and Miami’s Dru Smith.

Perhaps the more significant happened in the playoffs due to the magnitude and what was at stake. The first to be ruled out in the first round of the post-season was Milwaukee Bucks star Damian Lillard, followed by Boston Celtics’ Jayson Tatum, and Tyrese Haliburton of the Indiana Pacers in the do-or-die Game 7 of the NBA Finals.

Lillard tore his Achilles tendon during Game 4 of their Eastern Conference playoff duel against the Indiana Pacers. At the 6:12 mark of the opening quarter, he went down with a non-contact injury and had to be helped off heading to Milwaukee’s locker room.

Meanwhile, Tatum, who was balling in the semifinal series against the New York Knicks, sustained the injury with only 3:07 remaining in Game 4. He fell without any contact after attempting to dive for the loose ball. He then grimaced in pain while holding his right ankle, the worst sight to see for the Boston fans who flocked to New York.

Lastly, Haliburton, who already fired nine points in just seven minutes in the opening quarter of Game 7, suffered the same fate as Lillard and Tatum.

When the screens focused on Haliburton, the superstar floor general was emotional, lying on the floor, and had to be escorted out of the playing court to receive further assessment in the locker room.

Indiana’s franchise player never returned to the game, resulting in a title-clinching 103-91 Game 7 victory for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder.

When asked if shortening the number of regular season games can help lessen the risk of NBA players suffering torn Achilles injuries, Silver said that it doesn’t matter, backed up with the league’s data and findings.

“When we look back at the last 10 years, the majority of the Achilles injuries have happened before the All-Star break. So, it’s not clear it’s the number of games,” Silver explained.