Former Lakers Star Nick Van Exel Blames Nba's Achilles Epidemic On Sneaker Trend

Nick Van Exel hasn’t played in an NBA game since 2006, but the former Lakers point guard still knows how to spark a conversation. And this week, he lit one up.

After a full night of playoff action, Van Exel jumped on social media to share his take on something that’s quietly become a big issue around the league-Achilles injuries. His diagnosis? It’s the shoes.

“There have been Achilles tears throughout the years, but my thoughts on them is that they happen more now-and I think it has something to do with them dam lows the players wear nowadays,”he posted. No filters, no hedging. Just Nick being Nick.

That comment-along with a follow-up urging players to “cover them ankles up fellas“-caught fire, racking up over 520,000 views by the next morning. As the post circulated, fans chimed in, echoing Van Exel’s old-school sentiment. “Do they even make high tops now?” one asked. “Everything is a mid or low.”

Old-school vs. modern tech: Are low-tops hurting NBA legs?

Van Exel’s not the only one raising an eyebrow. Former Nets guard Kendall Gill backed him up, calling attention to what he sees as a design flaw in today’s sneaker culture. With brands like Nike and Adidas pushing sleek, low-profile silhouettes, ankle support just doesn’t seem to be the priority it once was.

And that might matter. The league has seen a noticeable uptick in Achilles injuries-Kevin Durant, DeMarcus Cousins, Wesley Matthews, Klay Thompson-all sidelined in recent years with serious lower-leg damage.

Some experts are skeptical about blaming footwear alone, pointing instead to the pace of play, year-round basketball, and training intensity. But in a 2019 study by the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, researchers did note a growing trend in Achilles tears among basketball players.

As always, correlation isn’t causation. But for players like Van Exel, who came up wearing high-top Nikes and never tore an Achilles in 13 seasons, it’s hard not to draw a line between the shoes then and the injuries now.

“I’ve been saying it for years,”Van Exel said. Judging by the reaction, a lot of fans think he might be onto something.