Something must be in the locker room water through the first quarter of this 2013-2014 NBA campaign. The Association will surely suffer from the time missed by Derrick Rose, Kobe Bryant, and Russell Westbrook. The common link between these three has been the dreaded knee injury, punching their ticket to rehab routines and back onto crutches.
The bug first attacked the beloved Derrick Rose. With his speed and explosiveness on display at the top of this season after missing the entire 2012-2013 season for the Chicago Bulls due to an ACL tear, he was clearly on track to returning to the old D-Rose that terrorized the league. In a sick twist of fate he was sidelined for the remainder of this season when he tore the medial meniscus in his right knee in what appeared to be a basic basketball cut and something that he likely did a million times in practice.
As if that was not enough, the knee injury has been contagious this year. Next in line to fall victim was Kobe Bryant, arguably one of the games greatest players ever to touch the hardwood. Playing in more than 1,200 games, his endurance and physical preparation for an 82 game season has gone unmatched throughout his 17-year career. Even after tearing his Achilles last season, it was anticipated that he would start off slow, but a knee fracture in only his sixth game of the season that would sideline him for 6-weeks was the last thing to cross the minds of basketball fans.
Hopefully the final stop for this talent-killing germ is Oklahoma City Thunder guard, Russell Westbrook. All was peachy after he dropped a triple-double on Christmas day in a blowout win over the Knicks. Clearly what is pleasing to the eye may not always be the reality. Shortly after the OKC faithful got a wonderful holiday present from Westbrook, the Thunder announced that he would be out for at least seven weeks after having arthroscopic knee surgery, sidelining him through at least the all-star break. With this procedure taking place on the same knee (right) in which he tore his meniscus during last year’s playoffs, any hoops fanatic can only hope that this is the last injury for one of the leagues high-flying players.
Luckily, Kyrie Irving of the Cleveland Cavaliers will not be added to this group. After mentioning that he heard a pop in his knee while driving to the basket against the Indiana Pacers, a league-wide gasp was taken. Fortunately, his health is similar to his game, as the star guard quickly dodged any long term injury when an MRI on New Year’s Day revealed that he only has a left knee contusion.
With injuries being a part of the game, fans surely expect their favorite stars to miss a few contests. But with bum knees plaguing two former MVP’s and a top 5 guard, some of the league’s best cross-overs, make you jump out of your seat dunks, and buzzer-beaters will be missing from the daily highlight reel.
By Clinton Jackson
