For a multibillion dollar company such as the NBA, which invests millions of dollars on new stadiums and facilities, it is surprising how often player safety gets reduced to an afterthought. But this season specifically, punctuated by injuries to key players in both the NBA and WNBA, has made one thing painfully clear. The league is not doing enough to protect its players. 

While supporters of the current system argue that injuries are an inevitable part of the game, the explanation feels hollow when we see how the current NBA and WNBA operate. Not only are players competing against elite talent, they are also facing an 82-game regular season and intense travel schedules. Even the Golden State Warriors’ medical staff had said these injuries can be seen as a result of the pace and travel required of players.

And we are seeing the consequences. Tyrese Haliburton’s injury in Game 7 of the NBA finals knocked him out of the game right when stakes were getting higher. Although a heartbreaking moment for Pacers fans, it was also a warning sign. His injury was not an isolated incident, but rather a longstanding pattern of high-usage players experiencing breakdowns due to the lack of precautions being taken to prevent injuries.

These incidents are not isolated to the NBA, either. In the WNBA, Caitlin Clark’s early career injury shocked the league, not just because she’s a popular player, but because it demonstrated the same concern that the pressures on players are increasing, but the precautions are not.

So what should the NBA and WNBA do to decrease the prevalence of injuries?

Shortening the season, or at least reducing the number of back-to-back games is an uncomfortable conversation, but it is necessary. Investing in individual recovery protocols, more conservative timeframes for players to return to playing, and a stricter oversight of team medical decisions should also be a part of the equation. 

Because, at the end of the day, the NBA and WNBA are not just entertainment industries, but are also workplaces. If any other workplace saw this kind of injury rate among its most essential employees, there would be immediate pressure to intervene. 

Fans want to see players perform at their best. Teams want long-term success. Players want sustainable careers. Protecting athletes is not a compassionate choice, it is a smart one. And until league leadership treats player health as a top priority rather than an inevitable casualty of competition, we are going to continue seeing careers disrupted and championships decided by who is still standing, rather than who is the best.

The views in this column do not necessarily reflect the views of the HiLite staff. Reach Drithi Raipet at [email protected].