15 NBA Players Who Are Injury Prone

Injuries will always be a part of sports; however, there are several players who always seems to miss games because of it.

Basketball is no different.

Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat recently injured his ankle after attempting to block a shot against the Denver Nuggets. Wade went down and did not return, and the Heat dropped a 117-104 decision to the Nuggets. Wade is currently day-to-day.

The injury was the second time this season Wade has had to miss time.

He is one of the best players in the league, but he often misses games because of bad luck with injuries. Wade is just one of a few players in the game to sit out because of ailments.

Here are the 15 most injury-prone players in the National Basketball Association.

15. Baron Davis: New York Knicks

New York Knicks guard Baron Davis' first three seasons were injury free, but the past several seasons have been a nightmare for one of the NBA's most injury-prone players.

Davis, who has yet to play because of a back injury, has missed a considerable amount of time in the past five seasons.

An number of injuries have kept Davis on the sidelines.

Besides the recent back injury, Davis has missed time because of knee and foot problems. The chronic knee problems have robbed Davis of his athleticism. In his prime, he was one of the most athletic guards in the game.

Davis is now just a former shell of himself.

14. Manu Ginobili: San Antonio Spurs

No player in the NBA exemplifies all-out hustle like San Antonio's Manu Ginobili.

Ginobili, out six to eight weeks because of a broken hand, is another injury-prone player. It's a shame too, because Ginobili is an important player for the Spurs.

The 10-year veteran has never played in all 82 regular season games. Last season, Ginobili played in a career-high 80 games.

Ginobili plays with reckless abandon and never stops hustling. However, his style-of-play costs him games, and San Antonio needs him on the floor.

But, Ginobili plays hard, and his intensity will always make him susceptible to injury.

13. Carlos Boozer: Chicago Bulls

Chicago Bulls power forward Carlos Boozer has played in all 16 games so far, and that is a miracle.

Boozer, one of the league's best at his position, has missed time throughout his career because of a variety of injuries.

Last season, Boozer played in only 59 games because of a broken bone in his right hand. Despite his absence, Chicago posted the league's best record at 62-20.

The Bulls' chances of winning their first NBA title since the 1998 season are greater if Boozer stays healthy.

12. Andrew Bogut: Milwaukee Bucks

Another player with bad luck is Milwaukee Bucks center Andrew Bogut.

The No. 1 overall pick in 2005 is an accident waiting to happen.

Bogut has already missed five of the Bucks' 13 games because of injuries.

Who can forget his freak elbow injury during the 2010 season? Bogut attempted a dunk and was pushed in the back by then-Phoenix Suns forward Amare Stoudemire. The seven-footer fell to the floor and dislocated his elbow.

Bogut is one of the league's best young centers, but his propensity to injuries keeps him from moving to elite status. 

11. Tracy McGrady: Atlanta Hawks

Injuries have not been too kind to the Atlanta Hawks' Tracy McGrady.

At one time in his career, McGrady was one of the NBA's most athletic talents, but a collection of injuries has taken away his vast skills.

McGrady has never played an entire 82 games during the regular season. The 32-year-old is currently injured with a bad back and hopes to be back with the Hawks.

Because of injuries and his age, McGrady will never be the player he was.

If there is one player in the NBA that needs to retire, it is Tracy McGrady.

10. Andrew Bynum: Los Angeles Lakers

In his seventh year, Los Angles Lakers center Andrew Bynum is a regular on the injured reserve list.

Only once in his career has Bynum played an entire 82 games during the season (2007). Bynum missed the Lakers' first four games, not because of injury, but because of suspension.

He has missed time in the past four seasons because of various leg problems, but hopefully, Bynum can remain injury free this season.

Los Angeles' title hopes rests on the shoulders of Andrew Bynum, and the Lakers can ill-afford to miss him because of an injury.

9. Kwame Brown: Golden State Warriors

Bad luck has also befallen Kwame Brown of the Golden State Warriors.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2001 draft has only played in at least 75 games once in his 11-year career.

Currently, Brown is out until at least early April because of shoulder surgery.

The trend of bigger players being often injured are common, and the 6'11" Brown is one of the most injured players in the NBA. 

8. Dwyane Wade: Miami Heat

The Miami Heat's Dwyane Wade plays each game like it is his very last.

Wade, one of the NBA's current best, has missed time because of injuries each year he has been in the league. In his ninth year, Wade has not played a full regular season.

This season is no different.

Wade missed three games earlier; now, he is day-to-day because of a sprained ankle.

Miami, who lost to the Dallas Mavericks in last year's finals, cannot win without Wade. Although the Heat have LeBron James and Chris Bosh, they will need a healthy Dwyane Wade if they are to win a championship.

7. Jameer Nelson: Orlando Magic

Jameer Nelson has never played a full 82-game regular season.

In his eighth year, Nelson has missed playing time because of several injuries with the Orlando Magic.

During the 2009 season, he missed four months because of a shoulder injury. He returned during the Magic's trip to the finals, where they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers, 4-2. 

Approaching 30 years of age, the pesky Nelson has seen his game suffer, mainly because of injuries.

Orlando hopes Nelson can remain healthy. The Magic have no suitable backup for him and will need him on the floor in hopes of making a title run.

6. Josh Howard: Utah Jazz

Utah Jazz forward Josh Howard has gone from being a former All-Star to almost being an unknown.

Just a few seasons ago, Howard was one of the NBA's most versatile players. He could score, rebound, defend and pass. However, something happened to him: Injuries.

Howard has missed a huge chunk of time the past three seasons with an assortment of injuries.

You name it: knees, hamstrings, quadriceps, shoulders, etc., Howard has had a tough go because of ailments, and he is not the same player he was.

Being 31 years old doesn't help matters, but hopefully, Howard can regain some of his good luck and stay away from the injured reserve list, because he can definitely help the Jazz. However, he is only limited in what he can do and must stay healthy.

5. Jermaine O'Neal: Boston Celtics

Because of injuries and age (33), Boston Celtics big man Jermaine O'Neal needs a helping hand these days.

A former All-Star, O'Neal, is nothing like the player he once was. He was a guaranteed double-double machine at one time, but O'Neal is now playing on borrowed time.

After signing a deal with the Celtics last season, O'Neal missed 58 games during the regular season before returning as a starter in the playoffs.

Knee injuries, along with other ailments, have limited his time on the court. He has not been fully healthy since the 2004 season.

O'Neal probably has one or two more seasons left in him, but a serious injury will probably bring his career to a close.

4. Tyrus Thomas: Charlotte Bobcats

One player that has baffled everyone since entering the league is Charlotte Bobcats forward Tyrus Thomas.

Thomas, the fourth pick of the 2006 draft, came into the NBA with a lot of potential. He is an athletic marvel with a huge upside, but Thomas' main problem is staying healthy.

He has missed a lot of games the past two seasons because of injuries. Problems with his legs have cost him time this season.

Thomas' legs are a big part of his game. The 6'10" jumping-jack can provide quality minutes for Charlotte. However, Thomas must remain injury-free and defy his detractors of his shortcomings on the floor.

In order to do that, Thomas must remain healthy.

3. Corey Maggette: Charlotte Bobcats

Tyrus Thomas' teammate, Corey Maggette, is built like a Greek god, but he is very fragile.

The well-chiseled Maggette has one of NBA's best physiques, and you figure a player of his stature could avoid injury, but it is just the opposite with Maggette.

Maggette, currently out because of a serious hamstring injury, has missed a lot of time throughout his career. His latest injury will keep him out until at least sometime in February.

Too bad, because the Duke alumnus is one of the game's best scorers.

However, you cannot help but wonder why a player like Maggette has never played an entire 82-game regular season.

2. Eddy Curry: Miami Heat

The Miami Heat, the NBA and fans alike are waiting for Eddy Curry to return to the basketball court.

Curry, recently signed a one-year deal with the Miami Heat, but has not played in an NBA game since Dec. 17, 2010.

After averaging 19.5 points a game for the New York Knicks in the 2007 season, things were looking up for Curry, but his career and life would take a dramatic turn.

An ongoing weight problem (295) and knee injuries have caused him to miss time during the last four seasons.

Curry could make his season debut any day now. However, don't be surprised if Curry sits the rest of the season out.

The 29-year-old high school to pro has a long road ahead of him, but better conditioning would be a huge start for him.

1. Greg Oden: Portland Trailblazers

You cannot help but feel sorry for Portland Trailblazers center Greg Oden.

Oden, the top pick of the 2007 draft, has played in a total of 82 games in four years.

The seven-foot giant has not played in a NBA contest since December 1, 2010 because of recurring knee problems; he's had micro-fracture surgery on both knees.

Just when you thought Oden was going to dispel any myths about him being labeled a bust, injury would befall him. Now, people are wondering will he ever play again.

Oden's stroke of bad luck with injuries is commonplace with Portland. The Trailblazers have a long list of players whose careers ended prematurely because of injuries: Bill Walton, Sam Bowie and, more recently, former All-Star guard Brandon Roy.

Oden is still under contract with Portland, but his days in the NBA are probably over.