Most Unlucky Injuries That Altered NBA Careers Forever

by Jeremy Block - 6/27/2025

NBA injuries that altered careers forever Derrick Rose

Injuries in basketball aren’t just bumps and bruises sometimes. They can snap careers in half, turning future Hall of Famers into role players, and forgotten names quicker than you can say “MVP voting”.

Some injuries hit so hard, they change the player forever. It’s a brutal mix of bad luck, timing, and physical toll that turns rising stars into “what if” stories. Here’s a look at seven NBA players whose careers were altered by some of the worst unlucky injuries in league history.

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Derrick Rose

Everything about 2011 Derrick Rose was history in the making. He was just 22 years old, leading the Bulls to a 62-20 record, and became the youngest MVP in NBA history while averaging 25 points and 7.7 assists. He had a first step that could break ankles on a dime and finished through contact like a center, making defenders think twice about jumping with him.

Then came Game 1 against the Sixers in th eEastern Conference Quarterfinals. The Bulls were up by 12 points with just over a minute left when Rose hit the floor—and you just knew it wasn’t good. One awkward hop later, boom: torn ACL. Rose would battle more knee injuries after that, but this one changed everything. When he came back, the bounce was gone, and he had to rebuild his game as a below-the-rim, midrange scorer.

Brandon Roy

There was a stretch in the late 2000’s where Brandon Roy looked like Portland’s answer to a championship. Between 2007 and 2009, Roy was averaging over 19 points, 4.7 assists, and 4.7 boards a game, and making three-straight All-Star teams. How would you describe Roy’s game? Clutch, smooth, and can score from anywhere at any time. Roy had the kind of game that aged beautifully—until his knees didn’t.

What happened? Degenerative knee issues stole everything. Roy had zero cartilage in either knee by age 26. By 27, he was retired. He gave it one last shot at 28, but his comeback only lasted five games. It was tough to watch, but his body simply couldn’t cash the checks his game kept writing. Roy was supposed to be the next Kobe-like offensive threat in the Western Conference. Instead, we got a harsh reminder of how fast it can all fall apart.

Grant Hill

Before everything unraveled, Grant Hill was putting up LeBron-ish numbers before LeBron even showed up. Through his first six seasons in the league, he averaged 21.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game. The Pistons found their guy, and Orlando thought they were getting the upgraded version when they landed him in 2000.

Then came the ankle injuries. And the surgeries. And the infection that almost ended more than just his career. From 2000 to 2004, Hill played in just 47 total games. Even though he did reinvent himself in Phoenix later on and played well into his 30s, the superstar version we saw in Detroit never returned.

Penny Hardaway

NBA fans from the ’90s still flinch when they hear, “What happened to Penny?” From 1995 to 1997, he looked like the future—securing three straight All-Star appearances, a career-high 21.7 points and 7.1 assists in 1995, and a trip to the NBA Finals at just 23 years old. Yeah, Penny was the real deal.

But the knee injuries came fast and didn’t let up. Multiple surgeries in a short span wrecked his explosiveness, and that was a death sentence for the 6’7” point guard who had once been one of the fastest players for his size. Hardaway managed to stick around the league, but the Magic version of Penny—that one was gone for good.

Yao Ming

For a guy built like a skyscraper with footwork smoother than most forwards, Yao Ming looked like he was about to dominate the league for a decade. Already into his fourth season, he was averaging a career high 22.3 points and 10.2 rebounds, and things were only moving upwards. By 2006, he pushed it even further—putting up 25 points a night and looking completely unguardable in the post.

But it didn’t last. That same season, he was diagnosed with osteomyelitis in his toe, and from there it was one thing after another. A broken foot in 2006. A stress fracture in 2008. By 2009, he missed an entire season. In 2011, he retired at 30. The worst part? He was getting better when his body gave out. Yao was a modern big man stuck in a body that just couldn’t keep up.

Greg Oden

Imagine getting drafted ahead of Kevin Durant, carrying all that NBA hype before you even set foot on the court. Greg Oden didn’t ask for the pressure, but he definitely got crushed under it—along with both knees. After missing his entire rookie season due to microfracture surgery, he would go on to only play in 82 games total for the next three years.

At 7'0" and 250 pounds, Oden had the size and defensive presence to anchor a franchise. Not to mention, at his peak, he averaged 11.1 points and 2.3 blocks in just 23 minutes per game. Unfortunately, repeated injuries cut short what could have been a dominant career for the Portland big man.

Shaun Livingston

If you’ve never watched Shaun Livingston’s knee injury from 2007, don’t. Seriously. It was a full-blown horror show. He tore his ACL, MCL, and PCL—basically everything in his knee snapped. Doctors weren’t even sure he’d walk normally again, let alone play NBA basketball. At the time, he was a 21-year-old point-forward hybrid with perfect court vision and top-tier finishing at the rim.

Livingston’s comeback was nothing short of miraculous. He returned to the league years later as a reliable midrange sniper and a key bench piece for a Warriors dynasty. But his game had to evolve. No more above-the-rim athleticism. Instead, he became the guy who made 12-foot turnaround jumpers look automatic. While you have to respect the comeback—but pre-injury Livingston was on the path to becoming an All-Star, and possibly more.

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Start:	June 27, 2025 @ 11:59 PM
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Most Unlucky Injuries That Altered NBA Careers Forever

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