De'Andre Hunter Injury History

De'Andre Hunter is an American small forward who as of December 2024, plays for the Atlanta Hawks in the NBA. Born on December 2, 1997, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S., Hunter is known for his two-way skills and athleticism. During his time at Friends' Central School, Wynnewood, Pennsylvania, Hunter was named Pennsylvania Class AA Player of the Year and was a four-star rated prospect. After joining the University of Virginia, Hunter showcased his elite defensive talent while playing for their Cavaliers basketball team, winning ACC Defensive Man of the Year in 2018 and NABC Defensive Player of the Year in 2019. Hunter became a household name when he led the Virginia Cavaliers to the 2019 NCAA Championship, solidifying his status as a certified lottery pick.

De'Andre Hunter was selected fourth overall in the 2019 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers but was traded to the Atlanta Hawks on draft night. Since joining the Hawks, Hunter has steadily improved each season, developing into a reliable two-way wing known for his defensive versatility and growing offensive game. In the 2023-24 NBA season, De'Andre Hunter averaged 15.6 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 1.5 APG, 0.3 BPG, and 0.7 SPG.

DeAndre Hunter’s Injury History

De’Andre Hunter’s rookie year was relatively healthy as he only missed four games but from the 2020-21 season onwards, Hunter has faced persistent issues with his right knee. These right knee ailments have surfaced almost every season and affected his availability and performance on the court. Below is a look at Hunter’s knee troubles and all the other notable injuries he has dealt with, according to Fox Sports as of November 29, 2024:

Major Injuries DeAndre Hunter Sustained in the NBA

Right Knee Injuries (2020-21 Regular Season)

De'Andre Hunter began the 2020-21 season showing strong promise as a sophomore for the Hawks and played 18 out of the first 19 games of the season. However, on January 29, 2021, in a game against the Washington Wizards, Hunter started experiencing discomfort in his right knee. This initial discomfort was due to accumulated wear and tear and limited his ability to perform at full capacity. After attempting to play through the pain, he missed several games.

In February 2021, Atlanta Hawks team doctors and Hunter opted for arthroscopic surgery to address a lateral meniscus injury. According to the NBA's website and The Associated Press, this procedure was performed by Dr. Kyle Hammond, the Atlanta Hawks' team orthopedist. It was intended to alleviate pain and repair the knee.

According to Basketball Reference, in March 2021, Hunter returned to play after sitting out 22 games but he was able to play in only two games in which his injury aggravated.

Although Hunter remained optimistic about his rehabilitation, his knee issues persisted and sidelined him for an additional 20 games in the 2020-21 regular season. According to Basketball Reference. he ended up playing only 23 regular season games in his sophomore season. This series of injuries was the beginning of Hunter’s recurring right knee troubles.

Torn Right Meniscus (2021 Playoffs)

After playing only 23 games in the limited 2020-21 season, De'Andre Hunter returned for the 2021 playoffs. In the first round against the Knicks, he started all 5 games and played 30.4 minutes per game, as Hawks beat Knicks 4-1. However, just before the start of the second-round series against the Philadelphia 76ers, Hunter’s right knee began to swell.

An MRI later revealed a new tear in the lateral meniscus of the right knee. Following a second opinion by Dr. Neal ElAttrache, De'Andre Hunter underwent surgery in Los Angeles, as per ESPN. This officially ruled him out for the remainder of the 2021 postseason.

Tendon Injury in Right Wrist (2021-22 Regular Season)

On November 8, 2021, De'Andre Hunter sustained a tendon injury in his right wrist during a game against the Golden State Warriors. According to the Hawks' X post, an MRI indicated that he would need surgery, keeping him out for around eight weeks. From mid-November to January 2022, this injury sidelined him for 25 consecutive games.

Inflammation in Right Knee (2023-24 Regular Season)

De'Andre Hunter’s right knee issues resurfaced in December 2023, as he was out for a month due to a non-surgical procedure to manage the inflammation. As per Game Log data on Basketball Reference, from December 20, 2023, to January 30, 2024, De'Andre Hunter did not play as the Atlanta Hawks carefully managed his recovery. Head coach Quin Snyder decided to ease him back into the lineup with limited minutes off the bench to prevent further aggravation.

Inflammation in Right Knee (2024-25 Regular Season)

At the start of the 2024-25 season, De'Andre Hunter’s right knee issues returned once more. After playing the first two games of the season, he missed seven consecutive games as of November 9, 2024 as per Basketball Reference. The Hawks remain cautious with Hunter’s health, as his knee continues to be a lingering problem early in his career.

Major Injuries De'Andre Hunter Sustained before the NBA

Broken Left Wrist (2018 NCAA Tournament)

During his freshman year at the University of Virginia, De'Andre Hunter suffered a broken left wrist at a critical juncture in the season. This injury occurred during the ACC tournament, forcing him to miss the entire NCAA tournament, as per Sports Illustrated. At the time, Virginia held the top seed, but with Hunter out, they suffered a historic upset loss to UMBC in the first round. Hunter’s presence was missed, though he later returned stronger than ever in the 2019 season, and led Virginia to the NCAA Championship in 2019.