NBA Players who got seriously hurt during international competition

Some of the best basketball players in the world will participate for their countries in Asia this summer in the FIBA World Cup. While each nation is hoping for a successful run in the tournament, many NBA fans and executives will pray that no one gets notably hurt. We’ll take a look at a few NBA players who were injured during international competition.

After having gone toe to toe with LeBron James in the playoffs, George was ready to take the next step in 2014-2015. Unfortunately, the Indiana Pacers budding star broke his leg during a scrimmage game with Team USA. He was only able to suit up for six games in the following NBA season, but he has still had a stellar career.

While representing his native Italy, Gallinari tore his ACL in a FIBA World Cup qualifying game in August 2022. The injury caused him to miss the entire 2022-2023 campaign with the Boston Celtics. Gallinari is no stranger to serious knee ailments, as he tore the same ACL back in 2013. The forward hopes to be ready to play by the start of the 2023-2024 NBA season.

Exum was one of the more tantalizing prospects in recent NBA history, but never found his footing in the league. Part of that struggle was due to the torn ALC he suffered while playing an exhibition game for Team Australia in the summer of 2015. The incident seemed to sap Exum of much of his lateral movement, which hampered his game as an ascending defensive player.

Baynes’ story might showcase some of the worst luck any athlete has ever experienced. He was nursing a neck injury he suffered earlier in the 2020 Olympics for Team Australia. During a subsequent game, the center had to use the bathroom between quarters and slipped on the way. The fall caused him to lose mobility in his legs in what ended up being a scary event.

The Denver Nuggets won the 2023 NBA championship, but it appears they will not have one member of their bench available when they try to defend their crown. Cancar went down with an ACL injury earlier this summer while playing in an exhibition game for Team Slovenia. His recovery might cost him the entire upcoming NBA season.

After conflicting reports, it has been confirmed that Porzingis will not suit up for Latvia in the upcoming FIBA tournament. It appears as if he’s suffering from plantar fasciitis, which is a painful ailment. It seems like this flared up recently, because Porzingis’ NBA season ended in early April. He was traded to the Celtics in June, and Boston will have to hope his foot feels better by October.

Individuals take great pride in playing for their country. That sense of devotion reaches higher levels when the Olympics are held in a player’s home nation. Such was the case for Yao when the games took place in Beijing in 2008. The Houston Rockets star had battled durability issues but played through them to represent China. He would only play in 82 more NBA games after those Olympics.

Ginobili was another player who gutted it out to represent his country. He’s one of the most decorated international players ever, having produced countless memorable moments for Argentina. He needed arthroscopic surgery on his ankle after the 2008 Olympics. Ginobili’s ankle wasn’t 100 percent heading into the games, and Olympic competition may have made things worse.