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As much as we'd like to see them disappear, injuries are part of sports and especially the NBA. Over the years, we've seen plenty of players get their careers cut short due to injuries, depriving fans of watching them fulfill their potential and have impressive careers in the association.
Sometimes, these injuries appear even before the start of their careers, and while some can come back from that, others can't keep up with the NBA rhythm. Here, we're going to take a look at five players who were drafted into the league despite being injured.
Top five NBA players drafted while injured
#5 Greg Oden
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Greg Oden is a complex case, as he didn't announce an injury before the 2007 Draft.
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The big man's knee always bothered him during his career, and everything started before his debut in the association. It only took one Summer League game to notice that Oden's knees were a problem, which never allowed him to become the superstar many fans imagined.
#4 Nerlens Noel
The rest of the selections for the list aren't as dramatic as Greg Oden. However, injuries also blighted Nerlens Noel's career, starting from the very beginning.
He was considered a top-three pick in the 2013 NBA Draft before tearing his ACL at the end of his freshman year at Kentucky. He fell to No. 6, where the New Orleans Pelicans drafted him before sending him to the 76ers.
#3 OG Anunoby
OG Anunoby has become an NBA champion, an All-Defensive player and the leader of steals in the league. But before the Toronto Raptors landed him with the 23rd overall pick in 2017, he injured his right knee during a college game.
He underwent season-ending surgery but still declared for the draft, with the Raptors landing a player who gave them plenty of joy during his stint.
#2 Michael Porter Jr.
Michael Porter Jr. carried huge expectations coming out of high school. Unfortunately, he suffered a back injury that only allowed him to play three games in college.
These issues followed him to the association, but the Denver Nuggets took the risk with him, drafting him at 14. He missed his first season with the team, but the back issues have decreased in recent years, with MPJ becoming a key part of the Nuggets' success.
#1 Joel Embiid
Joel Embiid has to be here, as he missed not only one but two seasons with injuries.
He was considered a potential No. 1 pick in the 2014 NBA Draft, but his body issues made him fall to No. 3. Two foot injuries kept him sidelined for two whole years.
He came back and became a strong force in the NBA, becoming an MVP and one of the best players in the league with the Philadelphia 76ers.
