LeBron James: Modern NBA pace causing more injuries than past eras

The National Basketball Association (NBA) has long been regarded as the premier basketball league in the world, serving as the ultimate destination for aspiring players hoping to compete at the highest level while achieving global recognition, fame, and success. For decades, the league has been defined by its superstars—players whose talent and influence not only shaped the game on the court but also transformed basketball into a worldwide phenomenon.

During the 1990s and early 2000s, the NBA was largely dominated by an “iso-ball” style of play, where elite scorers were given the freedom to create offense on their own. Legends such as Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, Allen Iverson, LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and James Harden thrived in systems that relied heavily on individual shot creation, physicality, and half-court execution. The pace was slower, defenses were more compact, and the paint was often crowded, forcing stars to battle through traffic to score.

In contrast, the modern NBA has undergone a dramatic evolution. Today’s game is defined by spacing, speed, and constant movement, with teams emphasizing three-point shooting, ball movement, and transition offense. While this shift has produced a more visually dynamic and analytics-driven product, it has also introduced new challenges—particularly when it comes to player health and durability.

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Injuries have become an increasingly common issue in the modern NBA, with players struggling to stay healthy over the course of an 82-game regular season and the grueling postseason that follows. Soft-tissue injuries, including calf, hamstring, and Achilles issues, have sidelined numerous stars in recent years, sparking ongoing debates about workload management, game pace, and the physical toll of today’s style of play.

Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton, who is currently recovering from a long-term Achilles injury, recently shared the spotlight as a guest on Mind the Game, a podcast hosted by NBA legends LeBron James and Steve Nash. Haliburton famously suffered the injury during Game 7 of the 2024 NBA Finals, and his appearance on the show prompted a broader discussion about how the league has changed over time—particularly from the perspective of player health.

LeBron, widely considered one of the most durable players in NBA history, offered a candid assessment of the stark differences between past and present eras.

It’s always an honor to talk about the game we all love w/ Legends! Appreciate y’all🙏🏽 @mindthegamepod @KingJames @SteveNash https://t.co/HAUKDfkXxo

— Tyrese Haliburton (@Hali) January 27, 2026

“The game is different. I want people and our fans to understand that playing 82 games in the 80’s and 90’s is not the same as playing 82 games in the 2020’s. It’s just not,” James said. “The way we play. The level of pace. The level of the speed we are playing at—it’s a different game now. It’s a totally different game. It’s a lot of soft tissue injuries that’s happened now because of it. I hope we can get a handle on that as well because that’s big in our game.”

James further explained how defensive schemes and spacing in earlier eras often led to different types of injuries compared to what players experience today.

“I think when I first came in the league, some of the biggest concern for injuries was like a high ankle sprain,” he said. “You was afraid to step on somebody’s ankle because there were just four or five guys sitting in the paint. So guys with athleticism—myself, Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter to name a couple—you were sometimes afraid to take off into the lane because there was so much traffic.”

“In those situations, if you land on somebody’s ankle, you get a high ankle sprain and you’re out for four to six weeks,” James continued. “Now, you don’t really see that as much. The game is so spread open. There’s so much pace. Now the new high ankle sprain is the calf.”

Despite the concerns, James emphasized that modern players still want to compete as often as possible, pushing back against the perception that today’s stars are less willing to play through adversity.

“Hopefully we get a handle on that from a medical standpoint,” he said. “But I just want the fans to understand the game is a little different. As NBA players, we definitely want to be out there as much as possible.”

As the league continues to evolve, the challenge for the NBA will be finding a balance between maintaining the fast-paced, entertainment-driven product fans enjoy while also protecting the long-term health of its players—an issue that remains at the center of conversations among stars, executives, and fans alike.

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