NBA gap years

Welcome to our community

Be a part of something great, join today!

Register Log in
illmatic99

illmatic99

formerly yuyuza1
Joined
Sep 16, 2008
Messages
57,763
Likes
56,275
Points
113
Been thinking of this one for a while. Maybe it's just me but I feel like every NBA star seemingly has one or more years in their careers where they have an extended break either due to injuries or tanking, allowing them to come back refreshed the year after. Dame last played a game on December 31, 2021. Admittedly the previous two plus seasons and the bubble and the Olympics had taken a massive toll on his body. But if all goes to plan now, he will have had nearly an 11 month break from competitive ball. And he should be playing pain free in his abdomen for the first time in years.

If history is any precedence, he should be back with a vengeance.

Some recent history.

Paul George:
-broke his leg, played 8 games in the end of 14-15.
- career high ppg in both 15-16 and 16-17 seasons.

Steph Curry:
- broke his wrist, played 5 games in 19-20.
- career high in ppg in 20-21 at age 32.

Kevin Durant:
- played only 27 games in 14-15 because of a broken foot.
- averaged 28/8/5 in 15-16 while playing 72 games.
also KD:
- did not play the whole year in 19-20 due to a ruptured Achilles.
- averaged 27/7/6 in 20-21 after returning midway through the season and having a virtuoso playoff showing.

Lebron James:
- missed 27 games due to various injuries and decided to shut it down in 18-19,
- won a title in 19-20 and finals MVP.

Kawhi Leonard:
- played only 9 games in 17-18 due to knee injuries.
- won a title in 18-19 and finals MVP while averaging career highs in multiple categories.

This kinda stuff is littered throughout history if you look back. MJ missed almost all of year 2 in his career. Came back and dominated in year 3. David Robinson hurt his back and played only 6 games in 96-97. Came back and averaged 20/10 next year next to Tim Duncan.

Needless to say, I think this sabbatical for Dame will renew his resolve to dominate and we should put aside any worries of a downward turn in his career.
 
illmatic99 said:
Been thinking of this one for a while. Maybe it's just me but I feel like every NBA star seemingly has one or more years in their careers where they have an extended break either due to injuries or tanking, allowing them to come back refreshed the year after. Dame last played a game on December 31, 2021. Admittedly the previous two plus seasons and the bubble and the Olympics had taken a massive toll on his body. But if all goes to plan now, he will have had nearly an 11 month break from competitive ball. And he should be playing pain free in his abdomen for the first time in years.

If history is any precedence, he should be back with a vengeance.

Some recent history.

Paul George:
-broke his leg, played 8 games in the end of 14-15.
- career high ppg in both 15-16 and 16-17 seasons.

Steph Curry:
- broke his wrist, played 5 games in 19-20.
- career high in ppg in 20-21 at age 32.

Kevin Durant:
- played only 27 games in 14-15 because of a broken foot.
- averaged 28/8/5 in 15-16 while playing 72 games.
also KD:
- did not play the whole year in 19-20 due to a ruptured Achilles.
- averaged 27/7/6 in 20-21 after returning midway through the season and having a virtuoso playoff showing.

Lebron James:
- missed 27 games due to various injuries and decided to shut it down in 18-19,
- won a title in 19-20 and finals MVP.

Kawhi Leonard:
- played only 9 games in 17-18 due to knee injuries.
- won a title in 18-19 and finals MVP while averaging career highs in multiple categories.

This kinda stuff is littered throughout history if you look back. MJ missed almost all of year 2 in his career. Came back and dominated in year 3. David Robinson hurt his back and played only 6 games in 96-97. Came back and averaged 20/10 next year next to Tim Duncan.

Needless to say, I think this sabbatical for Dame will renew his resolve to dominate and we should put aside any worries of a downward turn in his career.
Click to expand...
Yes. Also- MJ's break for baseball. Came back and won 3 straight.
 
illmatic99 said:
Been thinking of this one for a while. Maybe it's just me but I feel like every NBA star seemingly has one or more years in their careers where they have an extended break either due to injuries or tanking, allowing them to come back refreshed the year after. Dame last played a game on December 31, 2021. Admittedly the previous two plus seasons and the bubble and the Olympics had taken a massive toll on his body. But if all goes to plan now, he will have had nearly an 11 month break from competitive ball. And he should be playing pain free in his abdomen for the first time in years.

If history is any precedence, he should be back with a vengeance.

Some recent history.

Paul George:
-broke his leg, played 8 games in the end of 14-15.
- career high ppg in both 15-16 and 16-17 seasons.

Steph Curry:
- broke his wrist, played 5 games in 19-20.
- career high in ppg in 20-21 at age 32.

Kevin Durant:
- played only 27 games in 14-15 because of a broken foot.
- averaged 28/8/5 in 15-16 while playing 72 games.
also KD:
- did not play the whole year in 19-20 due to a ruptured Achilles.
- averaged 27/7/6 in 20-21 after returning midway through the season and having a virtuoso playoff showing.

Lebron James:
- missed 27 games due to various injuries and decided to shut it down in 18-19,
- won a title in 19-20 and finals MVP.

Kawhi Leonard:
- played only 9 games in 17-18 due to knee injuries.
- won a title in 18-19 and finals MVP while averaging career highs in multiple categories.

This kinda stuff is littered throughout history if you look back. MJ missed almost all of year 2 in his career. Came back and dominated in year 3. David Robinson hurt his back and played only 6 games in 96-97. Came back and averaged 20/10 next year next to Tim Duncan.

Needless to say, I think this sabbatical for Dame will renew his resolve to dominate and we should put aside any worries of a downward turn in his career.
Click to expand...
I'm @SlyPokerDog and I approve this message!
 
Last edited:
I forgot who said it (maybe Stephen Jackson) but he pretty much said once you’re in the NBA you’re never 100% again. That’s why a bunch of older guys will go an entire off season without touching a basketball just trying to get the body as close to 100% as possible.

An 11 month layoff is enough time to pretty much heal all the little nagging things that most players never get a legitimate chance to recover from, like an ankle sprain (when they come back in 6-8 weeks, they’re not recovered completely. Most ankle sprains are more like 4-6 months where they aren’t susceptible to being sprained again to allow the actual ligaments to repair themselves).
 
SO you made a list of players who had fantastic comebacks off of injuries? During your research did you see any players who didn’t have such successful returns?
 
THE HCP said:
SO you made a list of players who had fantastic comebacks off of injuries? During your research did you see any players who didn’t have such successful returns?
Click to expand...
obviously, but they were either much later in their careers or had injuries that were far more severe.
 
Could argue that the years CP and Al Horford spent in OKC were similar kinda gap years. CP went to the playoffs but it was relatively a low pressure environment with no expectations. Horford got paid to stay home for much of his year there.

Both have been rejuvenated since departing OKC.
 
Predator said:
I forgot who said it (maybe Stephen Jackson) but he pretty much said once you’re in the NBA you’re never 100% again. That’s why a bunch of older guys will go an entire off season without touching a basketball just trying to get the body as close to 100% as possible.

An 11 month layoff is enough time to pretty much heal all the little nagging things that most players never get a legitimate chance to recover from, like an ankle sprain (when they come back in 6-8 weeks, they’re not recovered completely. Most ankle sprains are more like 4-6 months where they aren’t susceptible to being sprained again to allow the actual ligaments to repair themselves).
Click to expand...

This is another reason why an 82 game season is stupid and hurts the NBA product.
 
WesleyMatthews said:
This is another reason why an 82 game season is stupid and hurts the NBA product.
Click to expand...

I’m curious if it ends up hurting the NBA bottom line with injury devastated playoffs. Charge 1/3 more for games then triple that to keep up with inflation.
 
WesleyMatthews said:
This is another reason why an 82 game season is stupid and hurts the NBA product.
Click to expand...

I really liked the format of the 72 game season last year. And after consideration, I've changed my mind about the play-in; or at least that they need to allow for a 7th and/or 8th seed to be so far ahead of 9th it cancels the play-in
 
Last edited:
wizenheimer said:
I really liked the format of the 72 game season last year. And after consideration, I've changed my mind about the play-in; or at least that they need to allow for a 7th and/or 8th seed to be so far ahead of 9th is cancels the play-in
Click to expand...
I said this earlier as well and think it's an obvious change that needs consideration. If the 7th or 8th seeded teams are like 5+ games ahead of the 9th/10th, don't trigger the play-in. Otherwise, you're completely minimizing the regular season.
 
WesleyMatthews said:
This is another reason why an 82 game season is stupid and hurts the NBA product.
Click to expand...
An 82 game season IS the NBA product. I want to watch 82 games every season. I don't understand what players are whining about. Jordan, Stockton, Malone these guys used to play 82 games every year no big deal. MVP Jokic pretty much plays every game. Get in shape, take care of yourself, and play.
 
illmatic99 said:
Could argue that the years CP and Al Horford spent in OKC were similar kinda gap years. CP went to the playoffs but it was relatively a low pressure environment with no expectations. Horford got paid to stay home for much of his year there.

Both have been rejuvenated since departing OKC.
Click to expand...
CP didn't just go to the playoffs. He went to a Game 7. Which he lost of course.
 
WesleyMatthews said:
This is another reason why an 82 game season is stupid and hurts the NBA product.
Click to expand...
Benn saying this for a long time. Cut the season to 66 games and play 2 games a week with two breaks. One break at 22 games and one at 44.
Then add a divisional tournament.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 1 (members: 0, guests: 1)
Back
Top