Pro basketball provides much entertainment to those watching, but it can also be physically challenging to the players. The rigorous training required to stay in prime shape and release explosive bursts of energy on the court is no small feat. Players get injured on the court every season, some more devastating than others. This article will focus on the worst basketball injuries in recent history.

Gordon Hayward's Broken Leg

On October 17, 2017, Gordon Hayward, a power forward, was scheduled to start his debut game with his new team, the Boston Celtics. The game was against the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Hayward was just five minutes into the game when he suffered a devastating ankle injury after a failed dunk. He didn't land in a natural position, and this caused his ankle to break into two on live television. Hayward's season ended after that injury for obvious reasons, but he made a miraculous recovery and returned to the court during the subsequent season in 2018. Unfortunately, Hayward couldn't use personal injury attorneys in Ohio to sue anybody since the injury wasn't anyone's fault.

Shaun Livingston's Knee Injury

Let's take a trip down memory lane to Shaun Livingston's injury in 2007. Livingston suffered the most horrific injury of his career, which left almost every bone in his knee damaged. The injury happened while he was with the Los Angeles Clippers, playing a game against the Charlotte Bobcats. His knee dislocated after he attempted but failed a layup maneuver and landed awkwardly. He was rushed to the hospital, where doctors considered amputating his leg from the knee to save his life. Thankfully, they saved his leg, and he returned to the court after eight months of rehabilitation. Livingston went on to have a lucrative career until he finally retired in 2019. 

Paul George's Broken Leg

During a summer scrimmage in Las Vegas, Paul George, a small forward who was playing for the Indiana Pacers, broke his leg in the most horrific way possible. It happened in 2014 when George slid into the base of the basketball court after he fell while running. The injury was an open fracture, which means the leg snapped in two, and the broken bone was exposed for everyone to see. People in the court were shocked by the gruesome nature of the injury. Fortunately, the doctors could correct the damage, and George could return to the court. Despite the injury, George returned for the final game of that same season after rehabilitation.

Isaiah Thomas's Hip Injury

The final injury on this list is the hip injury Isaiah Thomas, a point guard for the Boston Celtics, suffered during a game in 2017. It was the last game of the Eastern Conference. Remember that he initially injured his hip after colliding with another player during a game against the Minnesota Timberwolves earlier in the season. Instead of sitting out for full recovery, he continued the season until the finals, worsening his condition. While other players on this list were able to rebuild their careers after injuries, Thomas's case was more complicated. The Boston Celtics traded him off to the Cleveland Cavaliers, and while he continued to play, he never regained his original form or popularity.

Conclusion

These are just a few of hundreds of players who suffered severe injuries on the field. There have been many other cases over the years.

Yes, we know that Thomas' stay in Boston only encompassed two years and change, but he was on fire especially in his last year in Boston and was the man who carried Boston further than they had any right to be at the time.