The rise of the stepback three-pointer could also be contributing to the NBA’s rising soft-tissue harm drawback.
A number of of the league’s greatest stars related to heavy stepback utilization have suffered main leg accidents in recent times, together with Jayson Tatum, Damian Lillard, and Luka Doncic.
Tatum tried solely 11 stepback threes throughout his rookie season in 2017-18. By 2024-25, that quantity had risen to 251.
Solely 5 gamers have tried greater than 1,000 profession stepback threes since monitoring started in 2013-14: James Harden, Doncic, Stephen Curry, Tatum, and Lillard.
Each Tatum and Lillard later suffered Achilles tears, whereas Doncic has handled a number of calf strains over current seasons.
NBA Smooth-Tissue Accidents Have Surged As Gamers Strive To Hold Up With Calls for Of Trendy Recreation https://t.co/QGr1ORWCPE
— RealGM (@RealGM) May 14, 2026
