While it’s hard to say definitively that a shortened 2020 offseason was responsible, injuries were up around the NBA this season, according to data compiled by Baxter Holmes of ESPN.com.
As Holmes details, this season’s All-Stars missed 19% of a possible 1,944 games, the highest percentage in NBA history. Additionally, teams were missing an average of 5.1 players per game due to injuries, rest, and non-COVID-related illnesses, which is the highest mark since ESPN’s Kevin Pelton began tracking that info in 2009/10.
Players and coaches alike have noted that the 2020/21 season has taken a greater mental and physical toll than a typical year, but the NBA insists that the rate of injuries over the last few months has been about the same as normal, Holmes writes.
“Injury rates this season were virtually the same as last season, and any suggestion to the contrary is inaccurate,” NBA senior VP David Weiss told ESPN. “The number of serious injuries was lower this season than last season. Although more players this season missed a single game because of an injury or rest, injuries resulting in many games missed were in line with normal historical trends. To operate this season safely in a pandemic has been physically and mentally challenging for everyone involved, and players and teams have risen to the challenge and avoided an increase in serious injuries.”
Here are more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- League spokesperson Tim Frank confirmed that the first-place MVP vote awarded to Knicks point guard Derrick Rose was the result of a cumulative fan vote rather than from a media member, per Marc Stein of The New York Times (Twitter link). While that makes some sense, it’s still a bit odd, given that past fan votes for the MVP award haven’t been nearly so outside the box, writes Dan Feldman of NBC Sports.
- As previously reported, the Las Vegas Summer League will return this year from August 8-17, the NBA confirmed on Wednesday in a press release. All 30 NBA teams will be involved and will play five games apiece — the two teams with the best records after four games will meet in a championship contest on August 17.
- Meanwhile, the NBA G League has officially confirmed the previously-reported news that five-star recruit Jaden Hardy is joining the G League Ignite for the 2021/22 season. Hardy is considered one of the best prospects in the 2021 recruiting class.
- Keith Appling, a former Michigan State star who had a brief stint with the Magic during the 2015/16 season, was charged with murder on Monday, per an Associated Press report. Appling is accused of killing Clyde Edmonds, 66, in Detroit on May 22. He was initially arrested on May 24.
Of course it makes sense, Derrick Rose isn’t an MVP caliber player anymore, but he has one of the most relatable stories in the league and is one of the leagues biggest fan favorites. It was wonderful watching Derrick contribute to winning baskbeall again.
It was nice to watch him have one last hurrah of relevancy, but he definitely stole votes from Steph and Embiid and that’s a big problem.
Time to re-evaluate the fan vote then, because it’s clearly been corrupted by the NY market.
As a bulls fan and chicago resident. I can assure you that Derrick rose is one of the worst people from a character standpoint in the league. He’s a jerk. On top of that he milks injuries to not have to play. Yes he was dominant when he first came into the league and he could still be that dominant but he has no heart. Once he got that big contract and the shoe deal he stopped trying. I went to numerous games when he was on the bulls and he did the same thing almost every trip down the court. He would dribble across half court slowly. Stop. Pass the ball. Then stand there the whole possession or walk around the 3 point line. What a tool. Literally could have been one of the best point guards of all time. Oh well
please do everybody a favor and never watch basketball ever again
@Sankara… All that Wowwwwww says is true!
Worst MVP in the last 40 years at least!
Never watch again— So that Rose may be free from analysis like a Beyonce album?
Rose never did convert to an off-the-ball player; he just became a good backup as nobody has wanted him in charge for years, and he can beat up other backups.
So what’s with this fan vote? What fans where?
Presumably the ballots are from an NBA-sponsored site and the online ballot-box got stuffed. Who stuffed it would be shown by who gets recognion from out of the blue. Not just by NYers, who would have split with Randle. The voter MVP is the most permanently youthful (immature) candidate there was.
The site with the ballots should get some blame. The formula was 100 media members and the poll winner vote. I bet Sankara knows where the ballots were.
what I dont get is why, of any NY player, its Rose that gets that vote.
It’s a feel good story. A guy who was a star, fell, almost gone, and then becomes relevant again in a support role that had/has an impact. He’s turned a corner and I think he’s been humbled by where he’s been and where he’s gone. I wasn’t a fan of his during his first trip in NY – seemed selfish and focused only on the contract. This time around he seems genuinely grateful and helpful with the kids on the team. He has a role, has accepted it without argument, and has performed. It’s great to see someone succeed again.
I agree with Darkside…it doesn’t make any sense. This reeks of Reddit trolls