The High Cost of Rushing Back: Why Athletes Risk More Than They Gain

What are the implications of an injured player returning to play before they’re ready? 

Sustaining an injury has to be one of the most painful things that can happen to a basketball player. While the ultimate goal is for them to return to playing at the same level, several factors can impact this outcome. In this season alone, several NBA players have suffered from Achilles Tendon ruptures, including Dejounte Murray, James Wiseman, Dru Smith, Isaiah Jackson, Damian Lillard, Jayson Tatum, and Tyrese Haliburton. What do most of these players have in common? They were nursing an injury before the one that ended their season. Jayson Tatum nursed a knee injury and left ankle sprain in March and April of this year.  Damian Lillard suffered from a calf strain about a month before his season-ending injury. Haliburton was questionable for Game 6 of the 2025 NBA Finals with a calf strain before rupturing his Achilles tendon in Game 7.

The WNBA has had quite a few players (Rhyne Howard, Kayla Thornton, and Breanna Stewart, just to name a few) suffer injuries this season, and the balancing act on their return can be tricky. Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark has only played 13 games this season due to injury. She had a right groin injury that kept her out for a few weeks; Clark returned, but has been sidelined for about two weeks from a left groin injury. Could it be possible that she came back too early? We know that these players are important pieces for their teams, but is the possibility of reinjury worth them coming back before they’re ready?

When athletes return from an injury too soon, the consequences can be serious. Here are a few implications:

Risk of Re-injury: The injured area may not have healed completely, making it weaker. Players also face the risk of reinjury due to compensation, meaning that they change HOW they move to avoid pain, which places strain on other body parts, causing secondary injuries. 

Mental and Physical Barriers to Performance: If a player is reinjured, they will have a longer recovery time. There’s a chance that their performance will not match their abilities before the injury. Lastly, the fear of reinjury may have an effect on their playmaking decisions and lower statistics. Athletes may also put a lot of pressure on themselves to return early, which can be at the cost of their health.

Team Chemistry Decline: Teams have had to make adjustments based on the player’s absence. When they return, both the team and the player have to get used to playing with each other again, which can take some time. It may not be the smoothest transition and can impact the team’s success. 

Financial Factors: For the injured player, missed games can lead to missing out on endorsements, and their future earnings may decline based on non-performance. Sometimes fans don’t attend games because their favorite player isn’t playing, which affects the team’s earnings. Having huge playoff runs and winning championships means more earnings: that injured player could be the difference between a first-round playoff exit and making it to the finals. 

Playing through an injury or returning early from an injury can be a huge gamble. It can cost both the player and the team far more in the long run than waiting until full recovery. Medical teams, franchise management, coaches, and athletes have to carefully balance short-term gains with long-term health. However, it is easier said than done in the era of multi-million dollar contracts, television rights, and dedicated fan bases who want to see their superstars winning on the court.