Many star athletes have torn an Achilles tendon

The identification of a torn Achilles tendon for All-Star forward Jayson Tatum is a devastating blow to the defending champion Boston Celtics and the second injury of its kind during the NBA playoffs Seven-time all-NBA guard Damian Lillard of the Milwaukee Bucks tore his left Achilles tendon during a loss to the Indiana Pacers on April The -year-old Tatum tore his right Achilles tendon on Monday night against the New York Knicks when he lunged toward a loose ball and his leg gave out He buried his face in a towel in obvious pain while grabbing at his leg above the ankle after the non-contact injury The Knicks won - to take a - lead in the best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinals The series resumes Wednesday in Boston with the Celtics needing to win to stay alive in the playoffs Other notable athletes who have come back from a torn Achilles tendon Aaron Rodgers The four-time NFL MVP tore his left Achilles tendon on Sept four snaps into his first year with the New York Jets He was hurt as he tried to avoid a rushing Leonard Floyd who wrapped up the quarterback and spun him down to the MetLife Stadium turf Rodgers at the time returned to practice in an astonishing days after surgery but did not play again until Sept The Jets circulated him in March and he s undecided on playing in Kobe Bryant The late Basketball Hall of Famer tore an Achilles tendon on April had surgery the next day and returned to the court with the Los Angeles Lakers on Dec at age Bryant played only six games before a knee injury forced him to miss the rest of the season Bryant averaged points in only games in - and points in games in his last season in - Kevin Durant The two-time NBA Finals MVP tore an Achilles tendon on June playing for Golden State in Competition of the championship round He missed a full season and came back with the Brooklyn Nets on Dec at age Durant hasn t played more than games in any season since his return but he s been elite averaging points rebounds and assists in three seasons since the injury Dominique Wilkins The Basketball Hall of Famer tore an Achilles tendon on Jan He returned to the court with the Atlanta Hawks on Nov just two months shy of turning Wilkins averaged points in his first season back and played seven more years including two stints overseas Brandon Graham The Philadelphia Eagles defensive end tore an Achilles tendon on Sept and returned for the season opener Sept at age Graham had his best season as a pro last year posting a career-high sacks Ryan Howard The NL MVP tore an Achilles tendon on the final swing of a postseason series on Oct Howard returned to the lineup with the Philadelphia Phillies on July at age The big slugger was never the same however Howard averaged homers and RBIs in a six-year span before the injury He averaged over the next five