Pro Basketball Players With Torn ACLs

We've compiled a list of professional athletes that overcame their ACL tears and returned to their respective professional sports. Check out the list of NBA players with torn ACLs who have recovered or are recovering. What used to be considered career ending surgery most of the time is now treatable with only 6 to 12 months of rehab thanks to arthroscopic surgery, as shown by these determined athletes that eventually returned to the NBA following their injuries.

2013 NBA ACL Injuries

Most notably, the Chicago Bulls' Derrick Rose missed the entire 2012 NBA season after suffering a torn ACL in round 1 of the 2011 playoffs. He showed the reality of this knee injury and just how long it takes some people to recover both physically and mentally to return to competitive sports after Rose's ACL tear. The Boston Celtics' point guard Rajon Rondo tore his ACL towards the end of the 2012 season, but his injury did not look as bad as some. Rondo was able to walk off court with only a slight limp after tearing his ACL.

In April of 2013 Denver Nuggets' forward Danilo Gallinari suffered a gruesome torn ACL injury while driving the lane, without any contact to cause the knee injury. Similar to Kobe's torn Achilles tendon, many athletic leg injuries can very easily be self inflicted.

Derrick Rose

Derrick Rose

Rajon Rondo

Rajon Rondo

Danilo Gallinari

Danilo Gallinari

Notable Past Basketball ACL Injuries

Below you'll see a list o famous NBA players who have suffered torn ACL knee injuries. All of the NBA players with torn ACL injuries listed below were able to return to the NBA and continue successful careers.

Ricky Rubio tore his ACL in March of 2011, ending his incredible rookie year. Rubio was leading assists per game. steals per game, and minutes per game amongst rookies prior to his season ending ACL injury. He has since returned to the NBA and been able to contribute to the Minnesota Timberwolves success. Kendrick Perkins was able to return to basketball after only 6 months of rehabbing his ACL tear, which was sustained before game 7 of the 2010 NBA playoffs.

Ricky Rubio

Ricky Rubio

Kendrick Perkins

Kendrick Perkins

Jamal Crawford didn't miss more than half of any season as a result of his ACL injury that took place over a decade ago, and he is still a dominant player in the NBA today.Al Harrington's ACL tear caused him to miss the final 38 games of the 2002 season with the Indiana Pacers, but he played all 82 games the following year. David West's ACL ligament injury took place while playing for the Utah Jazz, and he has to be taken out in a wheelchair, similar to Danilo Gallinari this past April. West returned the following season to play 66 games.

Jamal Crawford

Jamal Crawford

Al Harrington

Al Harrington

David West

David West

More

Check out our list of football players with torn ACLs and our list of soccer players with torn ACLs.

Check out the Knee Surgery ACL Forum for more information!

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Disclaimer

The medical information on this site is provided as an information resource only, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. This information is not intended to be patient education, does not create any patient-physician relationship, and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment.

CONSULT A REAL DOCTOR IF YOU THINK YOU INJURED YOUR KNEE!