NBA Players Already Injured in Training Camp

The NFL saw an increase in the rate of injuries when they rushed back into their training camp and game schedule, according to CBS News. 

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After the NFL lockout finally ended this summer after 130 days, a disturbing trend emerged in training camps. At least 10 players tore their Achilles tendon in less than two weeks—more than the number of such injuries in the entire 2010 preseason. The trend continued: A recent report showed that Achilles injuries to NFL players have quadrupled this year compared to previous years.

Now a sports medicine expert says the ramifications of the NBA lockout could be much worse.

Extrapolate what we've seen in the NFL, and I could see in the NBA in the range of 2, 3, 4 times higher rates of injury," said Timothy Hewett, PhD, Director of Research at The Ohio State University Medical Center's Sports Medicine Department. "This could be a historic event, where we start to think, 'Is there a potential for really putting players at risk by these legal wranglings?'"

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With that in mind, there have already been some injuries in the abbreviated preseason.

Here are the key players who have already missed time due to injuries sustained or worsened since the start of training camp. 

Greg Oden

For those who thought that Greg Oden would be back this year, it looks like you're going to be disappointed...again. 

He suffered a setback to his surgically repaired knees.

While he might come back yet this year, it's not a guarantee by any stretch according to interim GM Chad Buchanan.  

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We’re hopeful that Greg can get back out on the court this year—maybe not quite as optimistic as we were before—but we feel like Greg Oden is worth that risk for one more year.

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LaMarcus Aldridge

Oden is not the only bad news if you're a Trail Blazers fan, as the alleged big man curse which haunts the Trail Blazers is striking already. 

According to his cardiology team as reported by the Washington Post,

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Aldridge was diagnosed in 2007 with Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome, a condition which causes the ventricles of the heart to contract prematurely. During an annual exam with his cardiologist on Friday, it was determined he needed the procedure to “evaluate the status of the electrical system in his heart.

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Anyone who has seen him play can tell you one thing—Aldridge's psychological heart is just fine. 

Jeff Green

"Something of concern" was discovered during Jeff Green's physical, though exactly what that is was not made known by Celtics GM Danny Ainge.

What is known is that Green has missed the last four practices. According to ESPN Boston, 

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Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge stressed Monday that it's not something of major concern, and certainly not something that would immediately threaten the deal, but he did note that Green would likely be sidelined for a couple more days.

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Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo

According to Celtics Talk, both Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo sustained minor injuries in practice yesterday and were unable to return. 

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Rajon Rondo suffered a right ankle sprain about halfway through Sunday's practice, and did not return. Fellow starter Paul Pierce suffered a right heel injury that kept him off the practice floor for the second straight day.

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While it's nothing serious, Celtics fans are hit hard and not being able to practice five-on-five certainly isn't a good way to have a training camp, particularly one so short. 

Baron Davis

When I first heard Baron Davis had a back injury I envisioned little mental quotes around "back injury." 

Apparently, though, it's a real problem.

It looks like Davis injured his back during the lockout and now is seeking a second opinion. 

Davis is an amnesty candidate for the Cleveland Cavaliers, and if he is let go then it is presumed that he will go to quarterback the New York Knicks, which would vault the Knicks into contender status. 

Carmelo Anthony

Carmelo Anthony hyper-extended his knee in practice the other day. According to NorthJersey.com, 

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Carmelo Anthony didn’t practice due to a hyper-extended left knee he suffered during Monday’s scrimmage. But Knicks coach Mike D’Antoni expects the All-Star forward to return today or Thursday and play in Saturday’s preseason game against the Nets.

"I think he’s fine," D’Antoni said. "He’s just day-to-day. We’re just making sure he’s OK."

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While Anthony is fine, it shines light on what a precarious situation the Knicks will be in this year. They have an extremely top-heavy team, but the top is pretty heavy.