NBA Draft 2012: 5 Players with the Biggest Injury Concerns

While the 2012 NBA draft is loaded with talent, it also features players with legitimate injury concerns.

Five years ago Greg Oden demonstrated the impact injuries could have on a young NBA body. On the other hand, Blake Griffin silenced his critics by coming back strongly after a knee injury that sidelined him for what would have been his rookie year.

Questions over a player's physical durability are of key importance for NBA teams looking for their next franchise player.

Here are the five players with the biggest injury concerns heading into next week's draft.

Quincy Miller, F, Baylor

Baylor's freshman phenom Quincy Miller was stellar throughout his first year for the Bears.

While he was among the top freshmen in the nation in 2011-12, Miller's torn ACL a year earlier impacted his brief career in Waco.

As a senior in high school, Miller's ACL tear sidelined him for the majority of the season and sparked questions of his ability to come back from such a severe injury.

Miller quieted the naysayers, but it was apparent that he lost some speed and agility in his rehab. Adding to this concern, Miller has a low release on his jump shot and gets little elevation. With a surgically repaired knee, this could be pivotal as he tries to get shots over uber-athletic NBA defenders.

How good would Miller have been for Baylor had he not injured his knee a year earlier?

NBA scouts already have their eyes on Miller's body, as his physical prowess could dictate where he falls in this week's draft.

John Henson, F, UNC

At 6'10" and 216 pounds, UNC forward John Henson is not strong enough to be a dominant PF.

Henson is thin and will likely be eaten up on the block by quick forwards with big NBA bodies like Carmelo Anthony and Rudy Gay.

While Henson can expect to get roughed up as a rookie, his wrist injury in last year's ACC tournament opened up questions about his body.

Henson sprained his wrist in the quarterfinals against Maryland, forcing him out for the rest of the tournament. After sitting out the Tar Heels' NCAA tournament opener against Vermont, Henson returned in a win against Creighton, putting up a double-double and adding four blocks.

Still feeling the aftermath of his injured wrist however, Henson underperformed in an Elite Eight loss to Kansas, putting up just 10 points and four boards in 25 minutes of action.

A sprained wrist is not a legitimate reason for any sort of red flag, but it is the type of nagging injury that could be a consequence of a weak core and frail NBA body.

If Henson wants to develop his game and avoid missing time due to injury, he will have to get bigger in a hurry, as forward is quickly turning into the most physical position on the court.

Anthony Davis, PF, Kentucky

The consensus No. 1 pick, Kentucky's Anthony Davis, will have a target on his back throughout his rookie season.

At 6'10" and only 220 pounds, Davis' body might be the biggest concern for NBA scouts. His bulk will restrict him from battling in the trenches and will have him consistently relying on his size and long 7'6" wingspan.

Davis had no injury history at Kentucky and starred for the Wildcats on their journey to an NCAA Championship, while taking home a slew of awards and honors in the process.

Still, Davis' frame conjures up comparisons to lanky NBA big men like Kevin Garnett and Marcus Camby. 

While both players have had solid NBA careers, they were forced to sit out extended periods of time over their careers due to injury.

Will the same happen to Davis?

He should not expect the type of physical treatment handed out to steamrolling players like Blake Griffin, but with all the hype surrounding him, Davis should expect to get knocked down often when he glides into the paint.

Damian Lillard, PG, Weber State

Weber State's prolific scorer Damian Lillard was sidelined indefinitely after just nine games into his 2010-11 season.

Lillard suffered a Jones fracture in his right foot in a December game against Tulsa.

The PG spent the year rehabbing and adding 10 pounds of muscle to his stocky frame while being granted a medical redshirt from the NCAA.

Lillard came back better than ever, playing every game for the Wildcats and earning MVP honors in the Big Sky Conference last year.

Looked at as arguably the most complete PG in this year's draft, Lillard is expected to be a lottery pick. Nevertheless, GMs still might hesitate to pull the trigger due to Lillard's severe injury less than two years ago.

Jared Sullinger, PF, Ohio State

Ohio State's super sophomore Jared Sullinger has had quite the maligned pre-draft diagnosis heading into this week's draft.

Earlier in the month, ESPN.com's Chad Ford reported that Sullinger had been red-flagged by NBA doctors due to concerns over his back.

During his sophomore season, Sullinger was forced to miss a handful of games as a result of persistent back spasms. Heading into the 2011-12 campaign, Sullinger was a contender for the NCAA's Naismith Award and an expected top-five pick in the 2012 NBA draft.

He found success for the Buckeyes, leading Ohio State all the way to the Final Four before they were ousted by Kansas.

In terms of injury concerns, Sullinger's pre-draft story relates closely to Pittsburgh's DeJuan Blair. 

Despite leading the Panthers throughout the 2008-09 season, Blair was medically red-flagged because of operations that removed his ACL in both knees.

Blair fell out of the lottery, into the second round before he was drafted by the San Antonio Spurs with the No. 45 pick. He has had a decent NBA career, but questions about his knees surely limited his ceiling.

Sullinger should not expect a slide of such severity, but concerns over his back certainly could hamper his NBA career.