Certainly, Aaron Gordon is used to unusual injuries. Eight years after breaking his jaw while playing – more or less dangerously – with his brother Drew during a family reunion, he now has to be absent for an indefinite period because of dog bites…
Enough to wonder about the most unusual injuries in history, because there have sometimes been some beautiful ones! Jumble.
The “best of the worst” NBA injuries
— Tony Parker and the box brawl. In June 2012, Tony Parker was in New York in the evening, when Drake and Chris Brown showed up and then fought. The bottles fly and the Frenchman receives shards of glass in the eye. He will compete in the London Olympics wearing protective glasses.
— Derrick Rose and the Apple Knife. In December 2008, Derrick Rose cut his arm at his home, while lying on a knife on his bed, which he had forgotten and which he had just used to peel an apple.
— Charles Barkley and body cream. In 1994, Charles Barkley attended an Eric Clapton concert, but the spotlights in the room were powerful and he rubbed his eyes. Problem: he had applied body cream beforehand and had washed his hands incorrectly, causing a chemical reaction which burned part of his cornea.
— Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the basketball hoop. In 1974, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was shot in the eye by an opponent. Angered, he then hits the basket support and fractures his hand.
— Dirk Nowitzki and the shoe. In 2001, Dirk Nowitzki injured his ankle just before a match, because to put on his shoe, he preferred to tap the ground with his foot, rather than bending down. Lack of luck, he misses his gesture.
— Amar'e Stoudemire and the fire extinguisher. During the 2012 playoffs, Amar'e Stoudemire was frustrated by the series against Miami. In the tunnel of the room, he sees a fire extinguisher and punches it then cuts himself, thinking the wall is Plexiglas when it is actually glass.
— Andrew Bynum and bowling. During 2012, Andrew Bynum decided to relax with a game of bowling during his convalescence. A very bad idea, because he re-injured his knee by throwing the ball on the track, which will undoubtedly hasten the end of his career.
— Gilbert Arenas and shaving. In 2001, rookie Gilbert Arenas shaved his pubic hair with an old razor, on the advice of his mocking teammates (the famous hazing of first years…). Except the thing is rusty and it's giving him a rash. He then goes to the doctor, who prescribes a cream to apply only to the sensitive area, but “Agent Zero” honors his nickname by applying it everywhere below the belt. His skin is burned and it's a month's worth of trouble.
— John Wall and the slide. At the start of 2019, John Wall was already recovering from a heel injury when, at home, he ruptured his Achilles tendon while slipping on the ground. Absent almost two years, his career will never be the same again.
— Blake Griffin and the employee. In January 2016, Blake Griffin broke his hand when he hit a Clippers employee, responsible for housekeeping, at a restaurant. He will end up hospitalized and the All-Star will miss a month of competition.
— Steve Nash/Michael Finley and the suitcase. In 2010 and 2014, Michael Finley and Steve Nash respectively suffered the same back injury while trying to carry their suitcase while traveling. Unsurprisingly, they will listen to their bodies and retire almost immediately.
— Kevin Johnson and the celebrations. In 1993, Kevin Johnson was sticky with his celebrations. In preseason, he will first try to celebrate an action by lifting the immense Oliver Miller, which causes a hernia. Some time later, following a “game-winner”, Charles Barkley jumped on him to congratulate him with a hug, which dislocated his shoulder.
— Latrell Sprewell and the yacht. In 2001, Latrell Sprewell threw a party on his yacht, but a guest vomited on the ground and, furious, he got into a fight with her boyfriend. While trying to hit him, his fist ends up in a wall and he breaks his hand. He hid this affair for two weeks from the Knicks before being financially sanctioned.
— Andrew Wiggins and the car door. One morning in December 2023, Andrew Wiggins, probably not awake, injured his finger when he closed his car door directly on his hand.
— Jaylen Brown and the vase. In April 2023, just before the playoffs, Jaylen Brown was watering a plant when a vase broke and, while trying to pick it up from the ground, he cut his hand open.
— Rajon Rondo and the shower. In September 2014, Rajon Rondo was preparing his return to the court when, at home, he fractured his hand after a fall in the shower.
— Carlos Boozer and the sports bag. In 2010, Carlos Boozer was at home when a person knocked on his door. He rushes to open it but he trips before he gets there, because of a sports bag in the hallway. Fractured hand.
— Monta Ellis and the scooter. In 2008, Monta Ellis injured his knee while scootering (sprain and rupture of a ligament), despite this activity being prohibited in his contract. He will first tell the Warriors that he was injured at home while training, before telling them the truth.
— Greg Oden and the sofa. In 2007, Greg Oden had not yet set foot in the NBA when he was injured at home while getting up from his couch. His knee immediately cracked and this was undoubtedly the starting point of his physical misfortunes.
— Luc Longley and surfing. In the fall of 1996, Luc Longley took advantage of a visit to Los Angeles to indulge in surfing, but he misplaced his collarbone when a wave violently threw him into the water. He will miss seven weeks of competition with the Bulls.
— Vladimir Radmanovic and snowboarding. In 2007, Vladimir Radmanovic practiced snowboarding even though this activity was banned by the league. He dislocated his shoulder and first said he had slipped on a patch of ice, before confessing everything to the Lakers, who sanctioned him financially.
— Jeff Ruland and the cart. In 1991, Jeff Ruland waited for the Celtics bus after a game. Moment chosen by an employee to send a cart intended to support his luggage across his legs. Season over.
— Kendrick Perkins and the bed. During 2007, Kendrick Perkins was sleeping peacefully when, in the middle of the night, his bed sank. He then tries to counterbalance to balance and tip over to the other side, but part of the bed falls on his toe, which is fractured.
— Enes Kanter and the chair. In 2017, Enes Kanter returned to the sidelines for a timeout while feeling frustrated. To let off steam, he throws a chair and fractures his forearm.
— Matt Bonner and the iPhone 6. At the end of a disappointing 2014/15 season, Matt Bonner explains that he suffered from tendinitis because… the size of his iPhone 6 is larger than the previous model. Exposing his fingers more to scroll.
— Pervis Ellison and the move. In 1996, Pervis Ellison helped teammate Greg Minor move, but a marble table fell on his toe during the move. Season over for the Celtics player.
— Brad Miller and the dishes. In 2008, Brad Miller, newly elected Player of the Week, was washing the dishes and cut his finger using a knife. No luck.
— Corey Maggette and the scorer's table. In February 2002, Corey Maggette could not digest an arbitration decision and he chose to let off steam by hitting the scorer's table. He then dislocated two fingers and ended up in a cast for a month.
— Jaden McDaniels and the wall. In April 2023, Jaden McDaniels returned to the locker room for halftime but, as he was frustrated with the level of play of the Wolves, he hit a wall and fractured his hand at the worst moment of the season.
— Steve Blake and the nail. In the fall of 2012, Steve Blake was in his garage when, suddenly, he stepped on a nail and punctured his foot, having been absent for almost a month.
— Lionel Simmons and the Game Boy. In 1991, Lionel Simmons developed tendinitis in the wrist of his forearm because he played too much Game Boy.
— BJ Tyler and the ice cream. In 1995, BJ Tyler fell asleep with ice on his knee and ankle. Tragic fate, because it causes nervous complications, altering his vivacity, and his career will never be able to resume afterwards.
— Manny Harris and cryotherapy. In 2011, Manny Harris treated himself to a cryotherapy session but, afterwards, he put on socks that were still damp. The thermal shock causes chapped legs and feet.
— Ledell Eackles and the fireworks. For New Year's Day, Ledell Eackles lights a Roman candle in his living room, which is not recommended because it can only be lit outdoors. A fire breaks out, but it will be contained, and he nevertheless gets burned.
— Jim Barnes and the plane. In 1969, Jim Barnes was about to board when he found himself thrown 15 meters by the blast of a plane that was taking off nearby. On arrival, slight hearing loss, slight concussion and minor whiplash.
