Injuries Plague NBA

The 2014-15 NBA rookie class came in with higher expectations than any other set of rookies in NBA history. However, no other rookie class has experienced so many injuries. Could it be that the work-load is too much, or are the expectations too high? Regardless, injuries have become a major problem this season for all players. 

Milwaukee Bucks forward Jabari Parker, the draft's No. 2 overall pick, was the projected Rookie of the Year before tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in December.  He joined No. 3 pick Joel Embiid, No. 4 pick Aaron Gordon and No. 7 pick Julius Randle on the sidelines. The result is a wide open but ugly Rookie of the Year race, one of the worst in NBA history.

Along with the rookies, multiple superstars have battled injuries all season. Kevin Durant has missed 27 games this season and is not expected to return until the playoffs. Carmelo Anthony will miss the rest of the season after having a knee surgery. Anthony Davis continues to combat a reoccurring shoulder injury. Even Lebron James's season has been hit with injury. As a result of multiple superstars' injuries, the NBA MVP race is wide open.

The reason most NBA players get injured is that the games are too long and there are too many of them. An 82-game season is a lot to ask of an basketball player, especially since the game is more physical than ever.  Also, a 48 minute game of constant jumping and lateral movements causes an indescribable amount of wear and tear on the athletes' bodies. 

The most successful players this season are those whose minutes have been limited out of caution. Stephen Curry and James Harden have remained injury free this season and are the leaders in the MVP race. Curry is averaging 33 minutes per game and is putting up career high numbers. Harden is only in his 3rd year as a starter, which has actually benefited him. He has experienced no injuries this season, and is at the top of his game.

NBA teams should be careful with how they use their star players. Maybe if Lebron James played a few less minutes each game, his performance would improve like Curry's has. It appears that limiting the amount of minutes a player plays is the best way to keep them injury free.