The Hurt Locker: Injury-Plagued NBA Stars

Health issues interrupted the careers of these ballers.

The Hurt Locker: Injury-Plagued NBA Stars - The Chicago Bulls and the NBA as a whole were rocked by Tuesday night's news of Derrick Rose suffering a torn meniscus in his right knee, the same injury he sustained in November 2013. Though there is no timetable for Rose's return post surgery, the Bulls' title hopes have definitely dipped. For Rose, this marks yet another battle with knee problems in what has turned into an injury-plagued career. But Rose is far from the only one. Many of the NBA's brightest stars couldn't live up to their potential due to injuries.(Photos from left: Robert Laberge/Allsport, Doug Pensinger/Getty Images, Robert Laberge /Allsport)

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The Hurt Locker: Injury-Plagued NBA Stars - The Chicago Bulls and the NBA as a whole were rocked by Tuesday night's news of Derrick Rose suffering a torn meniscus in his right knee, the same injury he sustained in November 2013. Though there is no timetable for Rose's return post surgery, the Bulls' title hopes have definitely dipped. For Rose, this marks yet another battle with knee problems in what has turned into an injury-plagued career. But Rose is far from the only one. Many of the NBA's brightest stars couldn't live up to their potential due to injuries.(Photos from left: Robert Laberge/Allsport, Doug Pensinger/Getty Images, Robert Laberge /Allsport)

Derrick Rose - Oh, no. Not again! Derrick Rose's latest meniscus tear comes after having previously torn the ACL in his left knee in 2012 and missed the entire 2012-13 season before returning only to suffer a torn meniscus (the first time) to miss the remainder of the 2013-14 campaign. After two-and-a-half seasons of trying rehab, this marks a bad blow to Rose's career. Don't forget, Rose is only 26 and is a former NBA MVP, three-time All-Star and 2009 Rookie of the Year.  (Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

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Derrick Rose - Oh, no. Not again! Derrick Rose's latest meniscus tear comes after having previously torn the ACL in his left knee in 2012 and missed the entire 2012-13 season before returning only to suffer a torn meniscus (the first time) to miss the remainder of the 2013-14 campaign. After two-and-a-half seasons of trying rehab, this marks a bad blow to Rose's career. Don't forget, Rose is only 26 and is a former NBA MVP, three-time All-Star and 2009 Rookie of the Year.  (Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Grant Hill - After a hot start to his NBA career with the Detroit Pistons, injuries began to set in plaguing Grant Hill's career and thwarting his upwards trajectory. After Hill signed with the Orlando Magic in 2000, the All-Star swingman was hampered by nagging ankle injuries, which forced him to play in only 47 games over three season from 2000 to 2003. After missing the entire 2003-04 season following major ankle surgery Hill returned to the court on a more consistent basis, but he was never the same player. Still, Hill wound up playing 19 seasons in the NBA.  (Photo: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

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Grant Hill - After a hot start to his NBA career with the Detroit Pistons, injuries began to set in plaguing Grant Hill's career and thwarting his upwards trajectory. After Hill signed with the Orlando Magic in 2000, the All-Star swingman was hampered by nagging ankle injuries, which forced him to play in only 47 games over three season from 2000 to 2003. After missing the entire 2003-04 season following major ankle surgery Hill returned to the court on a more consistent basis, but he was never the same player. Still, Hill wound up playing 19 seasons in the NBA.  (Photo: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

Anfernee 'Penny' Hardaway - Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway was an instant fan favorite as a big 6-foot-7 point guard who could score and pass with the best of the NBA. After coming into his own in 1995, Penny was named an All-Star that year and the next three seasons as well. However, a major left-knee injury and subsequent surgery forced him to miss a bulk of the 1997-98 season. Nagging knee injuries forced Hardaway to change his game and he was never a 20-point scorer nor an All-Star again. (Photo: Andy Lyons /Allsport)

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Anfernee 'Penny' Hardaway - Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway was an instant fan favorite as a big 6-foot-7 point guard who could score and pass with the best of the NBA. After coming into his own in 1995, Penny was named an All-Star that year and the next three seasons as well. However, a major left-knee injury and subsequent surgery forced him to miss a bulk of the 1997-98 season. Nagging knee injuries forced Hardaway to change his game and he was never a 20-point scorer nor an All-Star again. (Photo: Andy Lyons /Allsport)

Danny Manning - After winning the national title with Kansas in 1988, Danny Manning was selected as the first overall pick of the 1988 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Clippers. But his pro career seemed snake bitten from the beginning, as a torn ACL and surgery only allowed him to play 26 games his rookie season. And that was only the beginning of his knee trouble, as he eventually needed reconstructive surgery on both knees. Although he wound up playing 15 seasons, including two All-Star selections and an NBA Sixth Man of the Year award, Manning's career could have been brighter were it not for injury. (Photo: Stephen Dunn/NBAE/Getty Images)

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Danny Manning - After winning the national title with Kansas in 1988, Danny Manning was selected as the first overall pick of the 1988 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Clippers. But his pro career seemed snake bitten from the beginning, as a torn ACL and surgery only allowed him to play 26 games his rookie season. And that was only the beginning of his knee trouble, as he eventually needed reconstructive surgery on both knees. Although he wound up playing 15 seasons, including two All-Star selections and an NBA Sixth Man of the Year award, Manning's career could have been brighter were it not for injury. (Photo: Stephen Dunn/NBAE/Getty Images)

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Sam Bowie - Sam Bowie will always be known as the guy whom the Portland Trail Blazers picked with the second selection of the 1984 NBA Draft instead of Michael Jordan. Even if Bowie had kept healthy, he probably wouldn't have come close to the career MJ had, but battling stress fractures in his legs didn't help. Making the NBA's All-Rookie Team in 1985 was the highlight of Bowie's career.(Photo: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

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Sam Bowie - Sam Bowie will always be known as the guy whom the Portland Trail Blazers picked with the second selection of the 1984 NBA Draft instead of Michael Jordan. Even if Bowie had kept healthy, he probably wouldn't have come close to the career MJ had, but battling stress fractures in his legs didn't help. Making the NBA's All-Rookie Team in 1985 was the highlight of Bowie's career.(Photo: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

Ralph Sampson - Knee and back injuries robbed the 7-foot-4 center of what could have been a brilliant career, although there were flashes of brilliance, like being named the 1984 NBA Rookie of the Year and selected as an All-Star from 1984-87. (Photo: Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

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Ralph Sampson - Knee and back injuries robbed the 7-foot-4 center of what could have been a brilliant career, although there were flashes of brilliance, like being named the 1984 NBA Rookie of the Year and selected as an All-Star from 1984-87. (Photo: Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)

Jamal Mashburn - Jamal Mashburn fought through knee injuries to flourish late in his career. The New Yok City product earned a 2003 All-Star selection, which came 10 years after he entered the NBA. It's a shame, though, that even as a late bloomer, Mashburn couldn't avoid injury. Chronic knee problems ended his career in 2004 at the age of 32.(Photo: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

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Jamal Mashburn - Jamal Mashburn fought through knee injuries to flourish late in his career. The New Yok City product earned a 2003 All-Star selection, which came 10 years after he entered the NBA. It's a shame, though, that even as a late bloomer, Mashburn couldn't avoid injury. Chronic knee problems ended his career in 2004 at the age of 32.(Photo: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)

Greg Oden - The 2007 NBA Draft featured Kevin Durant. The Portland Trail Blazers placed their faith in Greg Oden as the No. 1 overall pick, though...and it instantly turned out to be a bust. The 7-foot center had micro-fracture surgery on his right knee, wiping out his 2007-08 rookie season. And re-curring knee issues and surgeries never let him come close to playing a full NBA season.  (Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

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Greg Oden - The 2007 NBA Draft featured Kevin Durant. The Portland Trail Blazers placed their faith in Greg Oden as the No. 1 overall pick, though...and it instantly turned out to be a bust. The 7-foot center had micro-fracture surgery on his right knee, wiping out his 2007-08 rookie season. And re-curring knee issues and surgeries never let him come close to playing a full NBA season.  (Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Yao Ming - Don't get us wrong, Yao Ming had his fair share of NBA success. Eight All-Star selections are proof of that. But the center's career would be cut short at the age of 31 due to three left-foot fractures. Those injuries and ankle issues never allowed him to be the player he needed to be again. (Photo: Jeff Gross/Getty Images) 

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Yao Ming - Don't get us wrong, Yao Ming had his fair share of NBA success. Eight All-Star selections are proof of that. But the center's career would be cut short at the age of 31 due to three left-foot fractures. Those injuries and ankle issues never allowed him to be the player he needed to be again. (Photo: Jeff Gross/Getty Images) 

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Brandon Roy - There were nights when Brandon Roy was flat out the most electric shooter in the league. But his knees never held up due to a degenerative knee condition, ending the three-time All-Star's career with the Portland Trail Blazers prematurely in 2011 at the age of 27. Although he attempted a comeback with the Minnesota Timberwolves the next year, that too was shortlived. (Photo: Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

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Brandon Roy - There were nights when Brandon Roy was flat out the most electric shooter in the league. But his knees never held up due to a degenerative knee condition, ending the three-time All-Star's career with the Portland Trail Blazers prematurely in 2011 at the age of 27. Although he attempted a comeback with the Minnesota Timberwolves the next year, that too was shortlived. (Photo: Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)

Brad Daugherty - A bad back hampered Brad Daugherty, who never reached his full career potential or reach his expected star power. But the 7-foot center did have success via five All-Star appearances and having his No. 43 retired by the Cleveland Cavaliers after a nine-year NBA run. (Photo: Getty Images)

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Brad Daugherty - A bad back hampered Brad Daugherty, who never reached his full career potential or reach his expected star power. But the 7-foot center did have success via five All-Star appearances and having his No. 43 retired by the Cleveland Cavaliers after a nine-year NBA run. (Photo: Getty Images)

Tracy McGrady - Tracy McGrady battled through everything from shoulder injuries to knee and back problems over the course of 15 seasons in the NBA. He was a seven-time All-Star and one-time 32-points-per-game scorer. Just imagine if he hadn't had those injuries...(Photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

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Tracy McGrady - Tracy McGrady battled through everything from shoulder injuries to knee and back problems over the course of 15 seasons in the NBA. He was a seven-time All-Star and one-time 32-points-per-game scorer. Just imagine if he hadn't had those injuries...(Photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Chris Graythen/Getty Images