Last Updated on July 8, 2024 by Mathew Diekhake
The reason there are so many injuries in the NFL, NBA, and MLB is that athletes are pushing the limits of their bodies more than ever. Nowadays, every pitcher wants to throw the fastest pitch or curve it the most; every running back wants to be Adrian Peterson; every NBA player wants to be Michael Jordan. Not many know this, but Jordan struggled with injuries toward the end of his career. It’s a mistake to push your body to its limit when you’re young. That’s partly why I love Ray Allen so much.
When Ray Allen was playing, he was barely respected as a top-15 player. But how are they judging that? If you consider the wisdom he played the game with that helped prolong his career, he was easily a top-15 player. There are always guys in the NBA who push themselves too far and it shortens their careers. They might look great over a single season, but if you factor in how they’re shortening their careers, those seasons are less valuable than it seems.