Listing the only 3 NBA players to make an All-Star team after returning from a torn Achilles injury

Los Angeles Lakers v Oklahoma City Thunder

In the NBA, overall basketball and most other sports, a torn Achilles tendon is widely considered to be one of the most difficult injuries to return from. Overstretching the Achilles tendon can lead to players rupturing them, which inadvertently requires a surgery and a recovery time of anywhere between 6-12 weeks.

In quite a few cases, players might lose their natural athleticism and might never return to their prime with respect to overall sporting ability. In fact, only three players in NBA history have managed to return to All-Star form after suffering an Achilles tendon rupture. The following article looks at all three of them.

The three NBA Players who made it to the All-Star team after suffering Achilles rupture

Out of the three, only one current NBA player has managed to make it back to the All-Star team after recovering from a torn Achilles. The US Olympics basketball contingent had three NBA/WNBA players who have previously recovered from a torn Achilles. Apart from Kevin Durant, WNBA players Kelsey Plum and Breanna Stewart also recovered from similar injuries and played a part in bringing home the gold medal for Team USA.

Dominique, Isiah Thomas, Boogie and then Kobe and Patrick Ewing (not a full rupture for Pat) were just on way out of All-Star form. Then you have guys like Wesley Matthews, Rudy Gay, Mehmet Okur, Voshon Lenard, who would were good players who never returned to form after injury.
— Jeff Eisenband (@JeffEisenband) July 1, 2019

Regardless, the following three NBA legends have returned to the All-Star team after suffering such an injury:

#3 Kevin Durant

Kevin Durant suffered his Achilles injury during the 2019 NBA Finals against the Toronto Raptors. During a drive past Serge Ibaka, Durant tore his Achilles tendon and had to be taken off. The fact that it was the last time the he played for the Golden State Warriors was even more painful for fans worldwide.

.@maxkellerman has reservations about Kevin Durant's level of play when he returns from his Achilles injury.

"The odds say that he will be somewhat diminished coming back from an Achilles. Still an All-Star, but not an MVP." pic.twitter.com/7oZqM5XqRU
— First Take (@FirstTake) October 15, 2020

Regardless, he sat out for an entire season after his move as a free agent to the Brooklyn Nets, and became the third player to be selected as an All-Star after recovering from an Achilles injury. Kevin Durant was obviously part of the All-Star team in 2019 although the Warriors lost, after which he was recently selected as an All-Star in 2021, again.