Note on Injuries

In the NBA, knee ligament injuries are much harder to come back from than broken bones.  Bones can fracture and heal very quickly and the player returns without concern.

Knee and ligament injuries take a long time to heal, and the player is more tentative to say the least.  I don't have statistical data on it but that is definitely what I've seen from a small sample size.  Players can break their hand and return fine, or break a leg and be back in action.  The more worrisome injury is the ligament injury.