Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has voiced serious concern about the rising number of soft tissue injuries in the NBA, attributing the trend to the league’s increased pace of play and the demands of its 82-game schedule.
His comments came ahead of the Warriors’ road game against the Orlando Magic, amid a growing list of star players sidelined with muscle-related ailments.
“I’m very concerned,” Kerr told reporters. “Our medical staff believes that the wear and tear, the speed, the pace, the mileage is factoring into these injuries”.
The NBA is currently playing at its fastest average collective pace since the 1988–89 season. Teams are pushing the tempo more than ever, with player tracking data showing athletes are covering 34.3 miles per game at an average speed of 4.43 miles per hour, which is the highest since tracking began in 2013–14.
The injury list is growing. In just the past week, Giannis Antetokounmpo suffered a groin strain, Victor Wembanyama was diagnosed with a left calf strain, and Stephon Castle is out with a hip flexor issue. Other notable players currently sidelined with calf strains include Anthony Davis, Ty Jerome, Dylan Harper, Ja Morant, and Jrue Holiday.
Kerr emphasized that while fast-paced basketball is more entertaining and effective in transition scoring, it comes at a physical cost.
“Across the league, everyone understands that it’s easier to score if you beat the opponent down the floor,” he said. “But when every possession is a sprint, the toll adds up”.
The Warriors themselves have managed to avoid major injuries so far this season, aside from Stephen Curry missing three games due to illness, and Jonathan Kuminga being out with bilateral knee patellar tendonitis. However, Kerr’s comments reflect a broader concern shared by coaches and medical staff league-wide.
Experts warn that the combination of high-speed play, frequent travel, and minimal recovery time could be pushing athletes beyond safe physical limits. The NBA has made efforts in recent years to reduce back-to-back games and improve scheduling, but the current pace of play may require further adjustments.
