The average 11-month recovery rate of Achilles tendon tear in the NBA is nearly 80% but only 27% return to pre-injury level

On May 14th, Celtics officially announced that Tatum successfully underwent a right Achilles tendon rupture repair surgery.

According to a 2024 study survey, between 1990 and 2023, a total of 45 NBA players suffered from Achilles tendon tears, with an average age of 28 when they were injured. Of the 37 players who met the research survey, eight of them ended their careers, with an overall return rate of nearly 80%. In addition, among the players who successfully made a comeback (29), their recovery time averaged about 11 months (329 days), with 54% of them still playing in the NBA three years after the injury (20 people), while only 27% of them returned to their pre-injury levels (10 people).