Originally Posted by MahomesMagic
I asked Grok on NBA recoveries.
NBA Players with Patella-Related Surgery
Kyrie Irving
Injury: Patellar fracture
Details: Suffered a left patellar fracture during the 2015 NBA Finals. Underwent surgery to implant screws. In 2018, he required additional surgery to remove the screws due to an infection at the site. Missed the end of the 2017-18 season.
Recovery: Returned to play, appearing in 50 games in the 2024-25 season before a torn ACL in 2025 ended his season.
Blake Griffin
Injury: Broken kneecap (patellar stress fracture)
Details: Suffered a broken kneecap during the preseason of his rookie year (2009) with the Los Angeles Clippers after coming down from a dunk. Required surgery, causing him to miss his entire rookie season. Later had arthroscopic surgery to address swelling in the same knee.
Recovery: Returned for the 2010-11 season, became a perennial All-Star, and powered the Clippers to playoff contention.
Andre Roberson
Injury: Ruptured left patellar tendon
Details: Suffered a ruptured left patellar tendon on January 27, 2018, with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Underwent surgery, followed by two additional procedures (one to clean out scar tissue and another to remove an irritating suture).
Recovery: Missed significant time, with a recovery timeline of at least six months for sports resumption. His return was uncertain, and he did not regain his prior level of play.
Jeremy Lin
Injury: Ruptured right patellar tendon
Details: Suffered a ruptured right patellar tendon in the 2017-18 season opener with the Brooklyn Nets. Underwent surgery the day after the injury. Expected to miss the entire season.
Recovery: Was traded to the Atlanta Hawks in 2018 and reported being ready for training camp, with videos showing him back on the court shooting and running.
Dino Radja
Injury: Left patella fracture
Details: Required surgery on a left patella fracture in January 1997 while with the Boston Celtics. Missed the remainder of the season.
Recovery: Did not return to the NBA the following season (1997-98), marking the end of his NBA career, though he continued playing internationally.
Antonio McDyess
Injury: Ruptured patellar tendon
Details: Suffered a ruptured patellar tendon 10 games into the 2001-02 season with the Denver Nuggets. Underwent surgery, missing nearly two seasons.
Recovery: Returned but never regained his pre-injury form, averaging 7.8 points per game post-injury compared to 17.6 pre-injury.
Randy Foye
Injury: Stress reaction/fracture in left patella
Details: Diagnosed with a stress reaction in the left patella in November 2007 while with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Did not explicitly require surgery, but the injury is noted as a stress fracture, which may have involved surgical intervention in some cases.
Recovery: Returned to play, remaining active as a rotation player, though his statistics never fully recovered to pre-injury levels.
Unnamed Player (2005-06 Season)
Injury: Torn right patellar tendon
Details: Underwent surgery in January 2006 after injuring the right patellar tendon just before the end of 2005. Had prior left knee tendinitis a decade earlier (1995-96 season with the Raptors).
Recovery: Missed the remainder of the season. No further details on identity or return-to-play status.
Unnamed Player (2006-07 Season)
Injury: Right patella fracture
Details: Suffered a right patella fracture in November after 20 games. Attempted to heal without surgery but required surgery in February 2006 to insert screws, missing the rest of the season.
Recovery: Returned for the 2006-07 season, playing all but one regular-season game, and played all 82 games in 2007-08, though with slightly reduced stats due to fewer minutes.
Unnamed Player (Chondromalacia Patella)
Injury: Chondromalacia patella (roughening under kneecap)
Details: Underwent surgery on the left knee at the end of October to repair chondromalacia patella, described as similar to a bone chip. Missed four months.
Recovery: Did not play in the 1996-97 season but appeared in 45 games for the Lakers in 1997-98, the most in his short NBA career.
Notes
Patellar Tendon Tears vs. Patella Fractures: The list includes both patellar tendon ruptures (e.g., Lin, Roberson, McDyess) and patella fractures (e.g., Irving, Griffin, Radja). Tendon tears often have poorer return-to-play outcomes, with studies showing only 75% of NBA players returning to play after patellar tendon surgery, often at reduced performance levels.
Recovery Variability: Recovery times vary significantly. For example, Blake Griffin missed a full season but returned as an All-Star, while Antonio McDyess never regained his prior form. Patellar tendon repairs typically require 6-12 months of recovery, with risks of long-term weakness or re-tear.
Data Limitations: The sources do not always specify the exact nature of the surgery or the player’s identity, especially for older injuries. Some players (e.g., Randy Foye) are listed with stress reactions/fractures that may not have required surgery, but they are included due to their relevance to patella injuries. Additionally, microfracture surgeries (e.g., Greg Oden) or other knee procedures are not included unless explicitly tied to the patella.
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