After sitting here and thinking I came up with a list of NBA players that always have to miss time due to injury or some other ailment. Some call them injury prone, I call them D.A.T., delicate and tender. So here goes with the list. A few might be missing from this list, but I just got home from my day job so forgive me.
Vince Carter- The king of being delicate and tender. Any time he gets hurt, he has the look of a European soccer player or someone that just was shot. Right now he's a gametime decision for a knee injury that has no significant damage.
Jermaine O'Neal-Out right now with hamstring, back, and knee problems. A smorgasbord of injuries early in the season. Everyone knew about the but this? He hasn't been the same since the "Malice at the Palace" and when he donned the ski mask for his big contract.
Greg Oden- I kinda feel sorry for the big lug. Even when he started college ball he was behind because of a hand injury. That balky knee isn't doing him any problems. The Sam Bowie comparisions will always be there. Fortunately he's only 22 and has time to salvage his career.
Brandon Roy- Another player I feel sorry for. His knees are taking the same path as Oden's. The Trailblazers' medical staff has been under some scrutiny lately for the plethora of injuries on their roster.
Baron Davis or any L.A. Clipper- Go ahead, pick a Clipper, any Clipper. Most would pick Davis because of his poor conditioning, that leads to back and knee problems for him. He's out until at least Thanksgiving, unless the turkey puts him down for the count.
Luol Deng- He just seems to come down with something every year.
Andrew Bynum- When healthy you can see why he's one of the top centers in the league. Problem is he can never last a full season or a deep playoff run.
Grant Hill- He's just about worked himself off the list, due to most of his problems being in the past. Still going strong in his later years.
Leon Powe- He's a hard worker so I won't rip him too bad. He's just had bad luck with knees throughout his career. This problem goes back to his freshman year in college. More bad luck than being a wuss.
Tracy McGrady-Obviously not the same since microfracture surgery. Every time it seems like he's ready to come back, he does more hard time on the injured list. Everyone knows he's not explosive anymore and he must reinvent his game to extend his career.
T.J Ford- I thought he could've been a solid point guard. He now finds himself chained to the Indiana Pacers' bench. He was diagnosed with spinal stenosis in high school and it has followed him to the NBA. Every time I see him take a hard foul, I hope we don't have to see him go out on a stretcher.
Yao Ming- That bum foot has cost him and the Rockets a lot of games. I don't mean to down him but you simply can't count on him. He's talking retirement if the foot doesn't improve. If I'm in the front office, I say goodbye if his contract comes off the books and start over.
Kenyon Martin- Sometimes you think of what if with this guy. Jason Kidd made him an All-Star and got him his big money deal. It seems like he's spent more time on the sidelines than on the court since he came out of college. Somehow he retains a sliver of explosiveness that will forever keep him in the league. Also he is one of the legitimate tough guys in the NBA. Just ask Tim Thomas and Tracy McGrady.
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