The Hurt Locker: Injury-Plagued NBA Stars

Health issues interrupted the careers of these ballers.

Danny Manning - After winning the national title with Kansas in 1988, Danny Manning was selected as the first overall pick of the 1988 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Clippers. But his pro career seemed snake bitten from the beginning, as a torn ACL and surgery only allowed him to play 26 games his rookie season. And that was only the beginning of his knee trouble, as he eventually needed reconstructive surgery on both knees. Although he wound up playing 15 seasons, including two All-Star selections and an NBA Sixth Man of the Year award, Manning's career could have been brighter were it not for injury. (Photo: Stephen Dunn/NBAE/Getty Images)
Sam Bowie - Sam Bowie will always be known as the guy whom the Portland Trail Blazers picked with the second selection of the 1984 NBA Draft instead of Michael Jordan. Even if Bowie had kept healthy, he probably wouldn't have come close to the career MJ had, but battling stress fractures in his legs didn't help. Making the NBA's All-Rookie Team in 1985 was the highlight of Bowie's career.(Photo: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
Ralph Sampson - Knee and back injuries robbed the 7-foot-4 center of what could have been a brilliant career, although there were flashes of brilliance, like being named the 1984 NBA Rookie of the Year and selected as an All-Star from 1984-87. (Photo: Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images)
Jamal Mashburn - Jamal Mashburn fought through knee injuries to flourish late in his career. The New Yok City product earned a 2003 All-Star selection, which came 10 years after he entered the NBA. It's a shame, though, that even as a late bloomer, Mashburn couldn't avoid injury. Chronic knee problems ended his career in 2004 at the age of 32.(Photo: Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)Greg Oden - The 2007 NBA Draft featured Kevin Durant. The Portland Trail Blazers placed their faith in Greg Oden as the No. 1 overall pick, though...and it instantly turned out to be a bust. The 7-foot center had micro-fracture surgery on his right knee, wiping out his 2007-08 rookie season. And re-curring knee issues and surgeries never let him come close to playing a full NBA season.  (Photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

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Sam Bowie - Sam Bowie will always be known as the guy whom the Portland Trail Blazers picked with the second selection of the 1984 NBA Draft instead of Michael Jordan. Even if Bowie had kept healthy, he probably wouldn't have come close to the career MJ had, but battling stress fractures in his legs didn't help. Making the NBA's All-Rookie Team in 1985 was the highlight of Bowie's career.(Photo: Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

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