Injuries keep piling up across the NBA, and the concern keeps growing. Naturally, one would turn to someone experienced like Nikola Jokic for answers. Why are bodies breaking down so often? Is the modern game simply too fast? After all, today’s pace demands relentless speed, explosive bursts, and constant intensity. Yet Jokic offered a calm response. He admitted he has no clear theory. However, Jayson Tatum became the focal point of his argument.

“Well, I believe part of the injuries are because players aren’t prepared for that kind of speed, explosiveness, intensity, whatever it is,” the Denver Nuggets big man said on X&O’s Chat. “Especially over that many games. We play five games in eight days.”

He added, “How do I put it—those minutes, all of that… It’s different for a player. Like Tatum, for example, who injured his Achilles.”

In simple terms, Nikola Jokic explained that workload varies greatly among players. A primary ball handler like Jayson Tatum constantly creates offense and handles the ball for 35 to 40 minutes. Meanwhile, others simply space the floor or run the court, facing far less physical and mental strain.

Jokic also suggests that injuries often hit star players because their roles demand heavier workloads. “I think part of it is they’re not ready. Part of it is maybe the years. Part of it is the style of play. The style of play demands a lot from them,” he further noted.

Jokić’s remarks are coming at a time when injuries involving the Achilles tendon have become a major point of discussion in the league. The NBA saw seven Achilles tears in the past season, including injuries to Jayson Tatum, Damian Lillard, and Tyrese Haliburton, while the league did not see any of them in 2024.

“We had already convened a panel of experts before Tyrese’s most recent Achilles rupture,” commissioner Adam Silver said in June last year. “We had seven this year. We had zero last year under the exact same circumstances. The most we’ve ever had in a season is four.”

Coming back to Jayson Tatum. It took him 298 days to walk into the arena once again. Friday, March 6, marked the day when JT finally returned against the Dallas Mavericks. And his comeback is an important moment for the league as well.

Jayson Tatum’s return could be a future turning point

Jayson Tatum tore his Achilles tendon during the 2025 playoffs on May 12. Surgeons operated one day later on May 13. Then came the long grind. However, the comeback arrived faster than expected. Tatum returned on March 6, 2026, against the Mavericks, roughly 10 months later. That timeline stunned observers because typical recovery stretches to 12-13 months. For comparison, Dejounte Murray required about 13 months. Furthermore, the comeback sparked league-wide curiosity.

The Boston Celtics‘ medical approach now draws praise from several front offices. At the same time, injuries keep rising across the league, with Damian Lillard and Kyrie Irving ruled out for the season. If Tatum sustains his All-NBA level, the implications grow larger. Last season, he averaged 26.0 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 6.0 assists. Therefore, his path may reshape recovery expectations for contenders chasing a title.

At the same time, contenders across the NBA may rethink patience. Boston already showed the blueprint to speedy recovery while sitting atop the East. Teams could welcome returning stars mid or late season and trust rhythm to grow before the playoffs. Therefore, franchises may pour money into advanced treatments and recovery science.

Injuries may be haunting the NBA, yet Jayson Tatum’s comeback flips the conversation. Nikola Jokic raised the alarm on workload, speed, and relentless roles for stars. Meanwhile, Boston offered a daring response through patience. Therefore, the league watches closely. If this path holds, contenders may chase quicker returns, sharper timing, and bigger playoff swings in the years ahead.