Injuries are the worst nightmare for any athlete, with some being career-threatening. A torn Achilles tendon is right up there amongst the toughest to deal with. For NBA players, especially the older lot, this injury is usually a career-ending one.
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However, there have been a few players in NBA history who defied the odds. These are five players who tore their Achilles in their 30s but made a comeback.
Dominique Wilkins
Atlanta Hawks legend Dominique Wilkins was an exceptional player in his prime. His incredible athletic ability made him one of the most difficult players to defend.
In 1992, Wilkins endured the toughest injury of his career. He tore his Achilles in a regular-season game in January. Wilkins was 32 at the time, and people immediately began to write him off. But Wilkins wasn’t ready for his career to end.
The forward tirelessly worked to return to his former self. In an interview after his recovery, he spoke about the injury, external reactions to it, and his mindset at the time.
“… I heard all of that [criticism] and read those articles and hung it on my gym wall. I remember the doctor who did my surgery came out of retirement to do my surgery in the Houston Clinic. He told me I’ll be coming back and I’ll be better than everybody,” Wilkins had narrated at the time.
“And I was saying that to people that I’ll be back, and they gave me that sarcastic pat on the back and wished me good luck. But I worked twice a day every day for nine months. I was determined not just to come back but be better than I was when I left,” Wilkins added.
Wilkins came back ready for the start of the 1992-93 season. He went on to average the second-most points of his career, tallying 29.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 3.2 assists in 72 games that year.
His efforts earned him an All-NBA second-team appearance and found him fifth in MVP voting. Wilkins earned two more All-Star appearances following the injury.
Kevin Durant
Arguably, the most iconic return from a torn Achilles tendon was made by Kevin Durant. Judging by his current level of play, one would never believe he suffered such a catastrophic injury.
In the 2019 NBA Finals matchup between the Golden State Warriors and the Toronto Raptors, Durant unexpectedly made a return to the lineup. The Warriors played the first four games without KD, who sat out due to an Achilles strain.
He began Game 5 on fire, looking like the version of Durant we all knew and loved. That didn’t last long. He tore his Achilles shortly after.
The two-time NBA champion missed the entire 2019-20 season to rehab the injury. There were doubts that he would be able to perform at the level he once did since he suffered the injury at 30.
He has put those murmurs to silence since then. KD returned in the 2020-21 season and averaged 26.9 points per game on 53.7% shooting from the field.
Durant has since returned to his position as one of the league’s best players. He has earned five All-Star appearances and five All-NBA nods since his injury.
Kobe Bryant
There are very few people who have a drive to excel as strong as Kobe Bryant’s. The Lakers legend didn’t allow adversity to ever gain the upper hand. Even when his back was completely against the wall.
Near the conclusion of the 2012-13 season, Bryant’s career flashed before his eyes. He suffered a torn Achilles while playing against the Warriors. He had every reason to end his career, considering he was 34 at the time. Remarkably, he found a way to return to the court the following season but only for six games.
The 2014-15 season marked his official comeback. Kobe averaged 22.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game. He gave glimpses that he was the same Bryant as before the injury.
Kobe played one more season and retired in 2016. Bryant never looked like the same player, but didn’t let that affect the edge he brought day in and day out onto the NBA hardwood.
Klay Thompson
In the same series in which Kevin Durant suffered his injury, Klay Thompson also went through a season-ending injury. The three-point sniper’s career would change permanently in 2019.
In Game 6 of the 2019 NBA Finals, Thompson was spearheading the Warriors’ efforts to force a Game 7. In the heat of battle, he tore his ACL. Despite the unfortunate injury, Thompson had a belief that he would return to prime form. That would take a significant detour during his rehab process.
While recovering from his ACL injury in 2020, Thompson tore his Achilles. He was 30 years old at the time.
The setback resulted in Thompson missing two full seasons due to the ACL and Achilles injuries. It wasn’t an easy journey back to the NBA after that. Thompson spoke with plenty of people to keep his head on straight.
Motivational speaker Tony Robbins was key in Thompson’s recovery. The four-time NBA champion said, “I can’t even put into words how much he helped me during those initial stages.”
Thompson used that fuel to return and average over 20 points per game twice. He even helped the Warriors win another championship in 2022.
Rudy Gay
Rudy Gay remains one of the most underrated players of this generation. He never received an All-Star appearance, but he was one of the league’s premier scorers.
In 2017, the trajectory of his career changed. Gay suffered a torn Achilles during his final season with the Kings. He was 30 years old but made a full recovery the following season. Unfortunately, he never elevated back to the caliber of player he once was.
However, Gay became a dependable role player for the final six seasons of his career. When Durant tore his Achilles, Gay reached out to provide comfort, according to Marc Spears. “The first thing Rudy told him was, ‘Don’t be scared,'” Spears said.
Gay is among the select few players who have displayed tremendous resilience to overcome the serious injury.
