NBA Soft-Tissue Injuries Have Surged As Players Try To Keep Up With Demands Of Modern Game

Soft-tissue leg injuries have been one of the key developments of the 2026 NBA playoffs, as they were last year, and the numbers behind the trend are striking. Documented calf injuries across the entire league stood at 18 in 2010-11. Last season, that figure reached 60 and 86 this season. Jalen Williams has missed six Oklahoma City Thunder playoff games with a hamstring strain. Franz Wagner, OG Anunoby, Aaron Gordon, Peyton Watson, and Jayson Tatum have all missed time with calf or hamstring i...