Although, like the other sports, there is a high rate of return to sport in the NBA following ACL reconstruction, the careers of players that have torn an ACL are almost, on average, two years shorter than other players. Playing time, games played and player efficiency ratings are also significantly decreased after the injury.
In addition to monetary factors, players often have to battle outside expectations about recovery time. It’s here where the miraculous recovery from ACL surgery of athletes like Adrian Peterson perhaps unfairly raises the bar for other athletes. In fact that race to return may even increase the possibility of a repeat injury to the ACL. Hewett cites the example of Derrick Rose, who delayed his return to the court after sensing that his knee still didn’t feel normal, as a player that was roundly criticized for a longer than normal recovery.