NBA commissioner Adam Silver plans to make use of cutting-edge expertise to fight the latest rise in Achilles accidents.
“I am hopeful that by taking a look at extra information, by taking a look at patterns that is one space the place AI — persons are speaking about how that is going to remodel so many areas — the power with AI to ingest all video of each sport a participant’s performed in to see in the event you can detect some sample that we did not understand results in an Achilles damage,” Silver informed ESPN’s Malika Andrews through the 2025 NBA Draft Wednesday (h/t Terrible Asserting). “We’re taking it very severely.”
AI is already utilized in crew and particular person sports activities to assist forestall accidents.
Per a examine revealed within the National Library of Medicine in November 2024, “In crew sports activities like soccer and basketball, AI fashions have been used to foretell muscle accidents and handle workloads.”
Predicting muscle accidents might be essential for the NBA, particularly when assessing the chance for potential Achilles damage.
Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton was one in every of seven gamers to undergo an Achilles rupture this season. Earlier than tearing it in Recreation 7 of the NBA Finals in opposition to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder, he handled a nagging proper calf pressure all through the collection, which probably contributed to the damage.
Extra information might have helped the Pacers decide whether or not the calf damage was placing him in danger and tips on how to handle Haliburton’s taking part in time.
Together with utilizing AI, Silver is looking for assist from medical consultants.
“We’re taking a look at it, and in reality, we had already convened a panel of consultants earlier than Tyrese’s most up-to-date Achilles rupture,” Silver stated. “We had seven this yr, we had zero final yr below the identical precise circumstances. Essentially the most we ever had in a season is 4.”
With the mixed efforts of AI and medical doctors, the NBA might uncover what’s inflicting these accidents and discover methods to stop them.
