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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 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.