The 25 Greatest Sports Careers Ruined by Injury

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Sport: Basketball
Years Active: 2002-2003
Career Stats: 9.5 PPG 2,6 RPG 4.7 APG 1.1 SPG
Injuries: Severed main nerve in leg, fractured pelvis, and three torn ligaments in left knee

Jay Williams was one of the best players that Duke had to offer the NBA. He was the ACC Rookie of the Year and National Freshman of the Year his rookie season with the Blue Devils as he put up 14.5 points and 6.5 assist per game. His talents caught the eye of the NBA early on as he would be selected to play on the U.S. Select Team to go up against current pros. In only three seasons, Williams became the sixth all-time leading scorer at Duke. He showed some flashes of greatness during the course of his rookie season, but competing with players like Jamal Crawford for playing time, Williams' play was limited. Before the start of the 2003 season Williams crashed his motorcycle on June 19, 2003, breaking his pelvis and tearing his ACL. After failed attempts to comeback from this injury, Williams retired, and never played in the NBA after his rookie season.

Sport: Basketball
Years Active: 1988-2003
Career Stats: 14.0 PPG 5.2 RPG 2.3 APG
Injuries: Torn ACL, Reconstructive Knee Surgery

Since tearing his ACL in his rookie season and receiving arthroscopic surgery to repair the damage, Manning was plagued with knee issues for his entire pro career. His potential shown in college was never realized. Manning was named the Most Outstanding Player in the Final Four and Player of the Year in 1988. He also led the University of Kansas to the Final Four in 1986, before winning it all in 1988. Manning left KU as the all-time leading scorer with over 2,500 points before turning pro in '88.

Manning's play began to pick up as his knees got healthier, posting averages of 20 points or better for the 1992-1994 seasons, garnering All-Star selections for the '93 and '94 seasons. Things were starting to look up for the KU product, but his ailing knees required two more surgeries that prevented him from becoming the player he was expected to be before retiring in 2003.

Sport: Basketball
Years Active: 1977-1993
Career Stats: 22.5 PPG 5.8 RPG 3.3 APG
Injury: Torn ACL

If you average over 20 points in your first two seasons in the NBA, you are putting the league on notice that a new star has arrived. Over the span of his career King picked up 4 All-Star appearances, a scoring title in '85, and a pair of NBA First Team selections. He blew out his knee in '85, causing him to miss the entire '85-'86 season. King made one last hoorah during the 1991 season, as he went on to average 28.4 points per game and made his last All-Star appearance. The King of NY is the godfather to Carmelo Anthony's style. Bernard should be in the Hall.

Sport: Football, Baseball
Years Active: 1986-1994
Career Stats: 2,782 YDS 16 TD, .250 BA 141 HR 415 RBI
Injury: Hip replacement surgery

As the first athlete to be named an All-Star in two major sports, Bo Jackson earned the respect of his peers in both sports. Then again, how could you not respect a guy who did this to save a play. Bo had the blazing speed and Herculean strength that you'd want a running back to have. In just four seasons in the NFL, Bo racked up over 2,700 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns.

He was on his way to a record shattering career until taking a hit from Kevin Walker that popped his hip out of place during a playoff game in '90. Because of this hit, Bo had to get hip replacement surgery, and wasn't able to return to football. Jackson was able to make a comeback in baseball for the '93 season, though. In his first at-bat, Bo hit a homer, showing that he still had something left. His return was short lived, though, as he retired the following season.

Sport: Basketball
Years Active: 1997-2011
Career Stats: 19 PPG 9.2 RPG 1.9 BPG
Injuries: Stress fracture in left foot, hairline fracture in left foot, fractured left ankle

Yao was supposed to be Houston's answer to the beast that was Shaquille O'Neal. The 7'6" center averaged 13.5 points and 8.2 rebounds per game in his rookie season, showing that he could be a force in the NBA for years to come. Once being paired with Tracy McGrady in 2004, the Rockets' had their one-two punch. The eight-time All-Star could score around the rim and had a shooter's touch. Yao's potential was never quite realized as he would go on to play less than 60 games a season between 2005-2008, with multiple surgeries to his left foot and ankle to repair the damage. In his final season, Yao only played in just five games before retiring at 30 years old.

Sport: Tennis
Years Active: 1951-1954
Career Stats: 9 Grand Slams
Injuries: broken leg and deeply gashed muscles and tendons

Maureen Connoly was unstoppable on the tennis court for three short years. From 1951-1954, Connoly was synonymous with the sport as she dominated every tournament she played in during that span. After winning her first major tournament, the U.S Open in 1951, the Ws started to pour in for Connoly. She took Wimbledon the following year and demolished the competition at the start of 1953. The following year, not only did she successfully defend her Wimbledon crown, but she also won the U.S Open for a second time, the Australian Open, and the French Open. Sadly, the 19-year old's tennis career was ended in 1954 as she was in a horseback riding accident where her right leg was crushed.

Sport: Basketball
Years Active: 1992-2001
Career Stats: 16.2 PPG 7.5 RPG 3.3 APG
Injury: Herniated disc in back

Coming out of UNLV, Larry Johnson was a freak of nature. The 6'6", 250 lbs. power forward could jump out of the gym and couldn't be stopped on the lower block. He was quicker than the other fours, was stronger than everyone, rebounded like a man possessed and could hit the 3. When the Charlotte Hornets drafted Alonzo Mourning the year after LJ's arrival, everyone figured a championship was only a matter of time. The duo never got along and then Grandmama sprained his back in '93 and was never the same. He was still a viable NBA player during the second half of his career with the Knicks, but no where near the 20 and 10 guy from the early '90s.

Sport: Basketball
Years Active: 1970-1980
Career Stats: 24.2 PPG 4.2 RPG 5.4 APG 1.4 SPG
Injuries: Multiple knee surgeries

Pistol was a magician on the basketball court. He dominated in college averaging 44.2 ppg and took his show to the NBA in 1970. Maravich scored at will, broke ankles and made dazzling passes on a nightly basis. The god even dropped 68 on Clyde Frazier in '77 and led the L in scoring with 31.1 ppg. That was until he injured both of his knees during the '78 season, limiting him to 50 games. With his skills slowly diminishing, Pistol called it quits after his tenth season. One of the knocks on Maravich was that he didn't make those around him better. He needed the rock in his hands at all times to be effective and often carried teams with his scoring. But, man was he a sight to see and his legend still lives on.

Sport: Hockey
Years Active: 1966-1978
Career Stats: 270 G 645 A 915 P
Injuries: 12 knee surgeries by end of playing career

By the time Bobby Orr called it quits he owned damn near every record a defenceman can own. He won the Norris Trophy (best defenceman) eight consecutive times, the Hart Trophy (MVP) three consecutive times, and is recognized as the greatest player ever behind Wayne Gretzky. Orr was a rare breed. He was a defenceman that hit hard and could score with the best of them. Teams worked their entire gameplan around him. He led the Boston Bruins to two Stanley Cups and was the first player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy (playoff MVP) twice. If it weren't for his plethora of knee procedures, Orr might've played five more years. It's absolutely astonishing that he was able to revolutionize the game in such a short time.

Sport: Football
Years Active: 1978-1984
Career Stats: 9,407 YDS 74 TD
Injuries: knee surgery, spinal surgery, nerve issues

Earl Campbell was one of the NFL's most prolific running backs to ever suit up. In just his first season, Campbell rushed for 1,450 yards on his way to picking up both the Offensive Rookie of the Year and the Offensive Player of the Year honors. Campbell would deliver crushing blows to defenders who tried to tackle him, and made them think twice before trying it the next time.

His best season came in his third year when he rushed for 1,934 yards, took home the MVP, and led the NFL in rushing for the second straight year—only Jim Brown did this before him. If you're name is mentioned along with Jim Brown, you're greatness speaks for itself. The "One Man Demolition Team" was a force in the NFL for 5 of the 8 years he played before his knee and back injuries got the better of him.

Sport: Hockey
Years Active: 2005-Present
Career Stats: 223 G 386 A 609 P
Injury: Concussions

Sid the Kid is supposed to be the future. He was the youngest player to ever lead the NHL in scoring when he had 120 points in '07. These days he's a couple concussions away from retirement. He suffered a concussion on consecutive days in January of 2011 which caused him to miss the remainder of the season. Crosby continued to experience concussion-like symptoms and only played in 22 games during the 2012 season. Yet, he played well during that short period, so Pittsburgh decided to give the Kid a 12-year, $104.4 million extension.

Sport: Basketball
Years Active: 1997-Present
Career Stats: 19.6 PPG 5.6 RPG 4.4 APG
Injuries: Back spasms, microfracture knee surgery

McGrady established himself as one of the premier players in the NBA during the 2000 season. With teammate Grant Hill dealing with ankle injuries, T-Mac became the team's only option. He would go on to win the Most Improved Player award and be selected to his first All-Star game during the 2000-2001 season. For the following seven years McGrady established himself as one of the best two guards in the NBA. T-Mac was at the height of his career when he exploded for an average of 32.1 points per game during the 2003-2004 season, where he took home the first of his two consecutive scoring titles and his third straight NBA First Team selection.

As a defender, you couldn't do anything with him because he could beat you in so many ways: killer crossover, quick first step, can over power you, attacked the basket relentlessly, one of the best jumpers in the league, and could jump out the gym. T-Mac was building his hall of fame resume and had a possibility of making it to Springfield, but nagging back spasms and a microscopic knee surgery derailed his plans and athletic ability. He has since bounced around the league and is currently considering playing in China.

Sport: Baseball
Years Active: 1989-2010
Career Stats: .284 BA 630 HR 1,836 RBI
Injuries: Left knee surgery, hamstring surgery, broken wrist

Ken Griffey Jr. was the face of the Seattle Mariners from 1989-2000. The 13-time All-Star was what many considered to be the greatest player in the game during his prime. Junior was a slugger, knocking 630 balls out of the park, and had his career best of 56 home runs in back-to-back seasons in '97 and '98. Griffey was a force that even the Yankees couldn't stop in his heyday, beating them in the ALDS in '95. He went off for 9 home runs on the Bronx Bombers before losing in the ALCS. Simply put, Griffey was the man before injuries sidelined him for most of the early 2000s (played under 100 games every season between 2002 and 2004).

Sport: Football
Years Active: 1988-1994
Career Stats: 8,134 YDS 65 TD 595 REC
Injury: Damaged vertebrae

Sharpe made it to 500 receptions faster than any other receiver. He only played seven seasons because of a neck injury he suffered during the 1994 season. The doctors said if he were to injure it again, he would risk being paralyzed. Sharpe was forced to hang them up, just two years after he teamed up with Brett Favre and three years before Green Bay's championship run. He was the first receiver to catch 100 passes in consecutive seasons and a five-time All-Pro. At 6'0", 207, Sharpe was the total package: speed, power and hands. Sharpe was headed towards a Hall of Fame career and should make it off the strength.

Sport: Basketball
Years Active: 1974-1987
Career Stats: 13.3 PPG 10.5 RPG 2.2 BPG
Injuries: Foot surgery, ankle surgery

The Portland Trailblazers' No. 1 pick in the 1974 Draft impacted the league as soon as he suited up for his first pro game. He would average 12.8 points and 12.6 rebounds in his rookie season but was held to playing in 35 games due to various injuries. It wasn't until the 1976-77 season the Trailblazers got a return on their investment. Big Red averaged a career best in points (18.6) rebounds (14.4) and blocks (3.2) per game for the season, as well as his first All-Star selection. He continued his dominance during their playoff run that year, bumping his rebound total up to 15 per game.

The Blazers went on to win the championship that year, and Walton was awarded Finals MVP honors. Despite breaking his foot the following season, The "Big Red-Head" went on to win the regular season MVP award after posting 18.9 points, 13.2 rebounds, five assists, and 2.5 blocks per game, but this was the start of terrible foot injuries for Walton. After missing the entire 1980-81 season due to another foot injury, and several other surgeries to his feet, Walton was not able to play at that MVP level again. He ame off the bench for the Boston Celtics in 1986, winning Sixth Man of the Year and another championship before retiring in 1990.

Sport: Football
Years Active: 1995-2002
Career Stats: 7,607 YDS 60 TD
Injuries: Torn right ACL and MCL, arthroscopic surgery on both knees, stress reaction in lower left leg

As one of the greatest Denver Broncos to ever play the game, Terrell Davis left his mark on the NFL during his seven years in the league. In his first season, TD established himself after rushing for over 1,117 yards. After setting a Broncos record with 13 rushing touchdowns in '96, Davis helped his team get to the Super Bowl in 1997. On the game's biggest stage, he rushed for 157 yards, and became the first player to record three rushing TDs in the Super Bowl. The Broncos won and he took home the Super Bowl MVP.

The following year, Davis put up 2,000 rushing yards on the season and earned himself the rushing title and MVP. That resulted in a second straight Super Bowl win. After destroying his right knee in the '99 season, his explosiveness and lower body strength left him. He ended up having microscopic surgery on both of his knees and hung it up in 2002.

Sport: Basketball
Years Active: 2006-2011
Career Stats: 19.0 PPG 4.3 RPG 4.7 APG 1.0 SPG
Injuries: Arthroscopic knee surgery on both knees, Meniscus tear in right knee, lack of cartilage between bones in both knees

The 2007 Rookie of the Year,6"6 shooting guard Brandon Roy was an explosive player that could get to the rim and finish, to go along with a killer crossover and step back J. Portland was looking to take over the Western Conference with Roy, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Greg Oden, but injuries hampered this trio from ever really coming together and being successful. Despite averaging 22 points a game, Roy's NBA career took a turn for the worst with arthroscopic surgery on his left knee, then he had a meniscus tear in his right knee.

During the 2010-2011 season, Roy had arthroscopic surgery on both knees, and upon return, was delegated to a sixth man role. Roy showed that he still had some juice left in those knees when he took over the fourth quarter during Game 4 of the 2011 First Round series vs. Dallas. He went off for 18 points, including a 4-point play and led his team to victory. But that would be the last time he would put on a Trailblazers uniform, as he would go on to retire right before the start of the 2012 season. Brandon has signed with the T'wolves over the offseason and plans on making a comeback during the 2013 season. Let's hope he's able to stick around.

Sport: Basketball
Years Active: 1993-2007
Career Stats: 15.2 PPG 4.5 RPG 5.0 APG
Injuries: Four left knee surgeries, Microfracture knee surgery

Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway was what many considered to be the closest to Magic Johnson (before Lebron), and for a while, he fit the bill. He instantly made an impact once he arrived. Penny averaged 16 points, 6.6 assists, 5.4 rebounds per game while leading the Magic to their first ever playoff appearance with the help of the Don Dadda. Penny was rolling in his second season, averaging 20 points and seven assists per game all the way to the NBA Finals.

He was nothing short of stellar the next couple seasons and had one of the best signature sneaker lines ever, but after suffering his first major knee injury in 1997, his career began to slow. Knee problems hampered Penny's career again in the 2000-2001 season as he would require microfracture surgery. He continued to play on his ailing knees, and his All-Star form was now a thing of the past. Hardaway turned into a serviceable player for the Suns and the Knicks, but that was about it.

Sport: Baseball
Years Active: 1955-1966
Career Stats: 165 W 2.76 ERA 2396 K
Injury: Arthritic elbow

Koufax struggled during the first six years of his career going 36-40. He tried to strike every batter out and didn't trust his defense. After a convo with a teammate in 1961, Koufax started to pitch with more control which resulted in a six-year run of dominance. He won three Cy Youngs and five championships. Little did people know, Koufax played in pain the last couple years of his career, even waking up with his entire left arm being black and blue.

He eventually developed arthritis and was told if he kept pitching he'll lose use of his arm. This quote from Yogi Berra says it all, "I can see how he won 25 games. What I don't understand is how he lost five." The Left Hand of God" is the youngest player to be enshrined in Cooperstown.

Sport: Basketball
Years Active: 1994-Present
Career Stats: 17.1 PPG 6.1 RPG 4.2 APG 1.2 SPG
Injury: Broken Ankle

Grant Hill should be inducted into the Hall of Fame based on general principle. He was probably the only Blue Devil to not be hated. Hill could do it all, man. Those that seen him play in his prime shed a tear when they see him now. Hill led the Pistons in scoring, rebounds and assists three times, joining Wilt and Baylor as the only players to do so. He also put up 9,393 points, 3,417 rebounds and 2,720 assists in his first six seasons putting him in the same company as Bird, LeBron and Oscar. Grant was the real deal until he broke his ankle during the 2000 Playoffs. Feeling unwanted by the Pistons, Hill signed with Orlando the following season. He felt both Orlando and Detroit team doctors mismanaged his injuries and he was never the same again.

Sport: Baseball
Years Active: 1964-1967, 1969-1971, 1975
Career Stats: .264 BA 166 HR 516 RBI
Injuries: Dislocated jaw, linear fracture of left cheekbone, left retina damage

Tony C was supposed to be one of the greats. He still holds the record for most home runs by a teenager in MLB history and is the youngest player to hit 100 home runs behind Mel Ott. Conigilaro, a Massachusetts native, was on Boston's "Impossible Dream" team that made it to the '67 World Series behind Carl Yastrzemski's Triple Crown performance, their first World Series appearance since 1946. In August of '67 he was hit in the cheekbone by a pitch that broke his jaw and severely damaged his eye. Tony made a couple comebacks, even hitting career-highs in home runs (36) and RBIs (116) in 1970. But, his sight kept deteriorating and he was forced to retire for good.

Sport: Tennis
Years Active: 1988-1993, 1995-2003
Career Stats: 10 Grand Slams
Injury: Stabbed in the back

In 1993, Monica Seles was nineteen and the top women's tennis player. She was fresh off of winning the French Open three years in a row and was looking to continue her dominance. That was until April 30, 1993 in Hamburg, Germany. During a quarter-final match vs. Magdalena Maleeva a crazed fan stormed the court and stabbed Seles between the shoulder blades. The man was said to be a Steffi Graf fan, her rival at the time, and never served jail time for the incident due to mental instability. Her injury wasn't life-threatening, but she never recovered psychologically. Seles made a comeback two years later and even won the 1996 Australian Open. She is still widely considered to be one of the greatest tennis players of all time solely based on her first five years.

Sport: Basketball
Years Active: 1983-1992
Career Stats: 15.4 PPG 8.8 RPG 1.6 BPG
Injuries: Surgery on both knees, back problems

Ralph Sampson was unlike anything this world had ever seen. Standing at a towering 7'4", Sampson had the skills of a small forward. He was basically KG before KG. With the help of a second year player by the name of Hakeem, the Twin Towers led the Rockets to the '86 Finals where they lost a grueling series in six games to the Boston Celtics. That was as far as the 3-time National Player of the Year would go as the rest of his career was plagued with knee and back problems. Sampson went from putting up 22 and 10 to barely cracking single digits in points. Mike would've had some real comp if Sampson were to stay healthy. He and the Dream would've stole one.

Sport: Football
Years Active: 1965-1971
Career Stats: 4,956 YDS 39 TD
Injuries: Torn ligaments in right knee, torn cartilage

Gale Sayers' first season in the NFL is the stuff of legend. He shattered rushing records left and right. Sayers was the game's first finesse running back. He shot through holes in the O-line like a bullet and once he turned a corner, he was Swayze. He scored, a then, NFL record 22 TDs as a rookie—a record that stood for ten years and is now a rookie record. In just seven short years, 68 games to be exact, Sayers accomplished enough on the gridiron to make him the youngest player to be inducted into NFL Hall of Fame at the age of 34.

His right knee was destroyed in 1968 and when he returned the following season he was the NFL's leading rusher, but clearly was not the same player. He then injured his left knee the following year and was forced to retire. His recovery and relationship with teammate Brian Piccolo was immortalized in the made-for-TV movie, Brian's Song.

Sport: Basketball
Years Active: 1955-1958
Career Stats: 16.4 PPG 17.3 RPG 5.3 APG
Injury: Post-traumatic encephalopathy

Maurice Stokes was a beast. He was a mixture of Elgin Baylor and Bill Russell, if you could believe that much. He played for the Rochester/Cincinnati Royals and was ready to change the game. Standing at 6'7", 232 lbs., Stokes was primarily a center, but was able to play forward and guard. He was so good, the Royals passed on Russell because they had him—think about that.

It all came to a crashing halt during the last game of the '58 season when Stokes hit his head on the floor while driving to the basket. Mo didn't feel too well on the flight back.He eventually suffered a seizure and went into a coma. When he woke up, he was permanently paralyzed. Stokes is by far the best basketball player no one talks about. Two years later the Royals drafted Oscar Robertson. Oh, what could have been.