The Rookies

In case you haven’t heard, Yao Ming’s foot injury is much worse than previously thought. His hairline fracture might cause him to miss next season, and has been described with that terrifying phrase “career threatening.”

Yao has always been injury-prone, but this foot injury is the latest in a series of serious foot injuries for extremely tall NBA players. From Bill Walton to Gheorge Muresan, from the Big Shaqtus to Big Z, a large percentage of the tallest of the tall have had significant portions of their careers derailed by foot problems.

In the super-sized world of NBA centers, foot problems have ceased to be an occurrence and have become an outright trend. While the exact medical reasons are far beyond me, the general logic seems fairly clear: these men, who stretch the limits of the human form by merely existing, put unbelievable amounts of strain on their joints by doing highly athletic things. In the rarefied air above seven feet, the pounding that playing in the NBA produces is put squarely onto the feet. All of that running, jumping, and landing is often simply too much for these already-strained bodies to take.

The other area that commonly causes injuries for big men are the knees. Ralph Sampson, Mark Eaton, Manute Bol, and Greg Oden are just a few of the centers who have struggled with knee problems. Again, the same theory applies; the stress put on the knees by the massive frames of these centers often proves too much.

Injury to be?

Obviously, NBA teams have drawn this connection far before your humble blogger. Yet, often, they continue to play centers for large portions of the game, expecting their bodies to react as a guard’s might. Training staffs in the NBA are exceptional, but can do nothing to treat a broken ankle or torn-up knee. This history should serve as a warning for the Memphis Grizzlies. Hasheem Thabeet is an undoubted talent, but is also a definite injury-risk. The Grizzlies should be proactive in their treatment of Thabeet, treating him as a team would a starting pitcher with arm problems.

Taking the wider view, perhaps it is time for fans to re-adjust their expectations for seven-foot-plus players in the NBA. Shaquille O’Neal, who has dealt with foot problems and still had a productive career, is the exception rather than the rule.  Sports fans tend to fall in love with the hype and mystique of extreme height. These veritable giants are unique and interesting, which generates buzz and sells tickets.

However, we shouldn’t let the hype machine fool us. The next time a can’t-miss 7′3″ or 7′5″ center comes around, we should all remember that the odds are stacked against him having a full, healthy career.