Patellar tendonitis, also known as jumper’s knee, is a painful condition caused by overworking or degrading the patellar tendon in the knee. It’s a widespread injury among athletes, especially basketball players, due to the high jumping volume and pressure. Studies have found over 30% of NBA players have experienced this condition at least once in their careers.
NBA players with patellar tendonitis include 2-time all-star nominee and Boston Celtic Jaylen Brown. Others are 8-time all-star nominee, 2012 rookie of the year, and NBA champion Kyrie Irving and Dwayne Wade. These players didn’t allow the injury to hinder their career’s longevity and performance.
The rest of this article will explore the abovementioned players in great detail. To learn everything you need to know about NBA players with patellar tendonitis, read on.
1. Jaylen Brown
Jaylen Brown is a professional basketball player for the NBA’s Boston Celtics. He was picked 3rd overall in the 2016 NBA draft and has remained an important part of the team ever since. Jaylen is a 2-time NBA all-star and even reached the NBA finals in 2022. Although his career is full of steady improvements, Brown did experience a setback in 2021.
It was reported by Danny Ainge (the executive director of Basketball Operations at the time) that Jaylen Brown was suffering from patellar tendonitis in his left knee. It was a newer issue for Brown and not a severe case. However, the Celtics still chose to let him sit out a few games for proper rest.
2. Kyrie Irving
Another current NBA with a history of knee-related issues is Kyrie Irving. Irving was picked 1st overall in the 2011 NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers and went on to have a long and prosperous career lasting over 10 years. Irving has received multiple impressive accolades, including the following:
- Rookie of the year in 2012
- 8 all star nominations
- 3 All NBA team positions
- A championship in 2016
Irving has played for 4 different NBA teams and is currently a part of the Dallas Mavericks. Although he’s had a successful career, Kyrie is no stranger to injury. In 2015 Kyrie suffered a patellar fracture ending his season early. It was a rather severe injury requiring surgery to be fixed appropriately. Kyrie had screws and a tension wire inserted into his knee to stabilize the injury.
3. Dwayne Wade
Dwyane Tyrone Wade Jr is a retired professional player who spent most of his career with the Miami Heat. He was drafted 5th overall in 2003 and had a very successful 16-year-long tenure. During his career, he received 13 all-star nominations, 2 All NBA Team positions and a scoring title in 2009.
Wade is also a 3-time NBA champion, even receiving an NBA Finals MVP award in 2006 for his performance. Despite his prosperous career, he has always dealt with lingering injuries, particularly in his knees. However, after a collision with another player in 2013, he reaggravated some long-term issues causing him to need more extensive treatment.