The Heartbreaks That Changed the NBA: How One Injury — or One Moment — Rewrote Finals History
Basketball fans love to debate legacies, dynasties, and “what if” scenarios. But few things have altered the course of NBA history more than the cruel, untimely heartbreaks that struck at the game’s biggest stage — the NBA Finals.
Whether it was a superstar’s injury, an agonizing mistake, or a devastating Game 7 loss, these moments didn’t just end seasons — they reshaped the league itself.
Here are three unforgettable heartbreaks that left fans wondering how different the NBA might look today.
💔 1. Kevin Durant — Game 5, 2019 NBA Finals
The scene is etched into NBA lore: Kevin Durant, returning from a calf injury, laced up for Game 5 of the 2019 Finals with the Golden State Warriors trailing 3-1 to the Toronto Raptors. For 12 minutes, Durant looked unstoppable, scoring 11 quick points and injecting new life into the defending champions.
Then disaster struck.
On a routine drive, Durant collapsed, clutching his Achilles — the injury that not only ended his season but effectively dismantled the Warriors’ dynasty as we knew it.
“We’ll never know what would’ve happened if KD stayed healthy,” countless fans and analysts still muse to this day.
The Raptors went on to win their first-ever championship, Durant left for Brooklyn, and the Warriors’ reign paused — all changed by one moment.
💔 2. Klay Thompson — Game 6, 2019 NBA Finals
As if one injury wasn’t enough to change history, fate dealt the Warriors another cruel blow just a game later.
Klay Thompson, scorching hot and carrying Golden State in a do-or-die Game 6, soared for a dunk — only to land awkwardly and tear his ACL. Despite briefly returning to sink two free throws, Klay’s injury sealed the Warriors’ fate.
Toronto closed out the series. A Warriors three-peat vanished. And Thompson would miss the entire following season.
Injuries to two of the game’s deadliest shooters altered the league’s balance for years to come — a painful reminder of how fragile greatness can be.
💔 3. Tyrese Haliburton — Game 7, 2025 NBA Finals
The heartbreak isn’t just in the past — it struck again this year.
Tyrese Haliburton, the heart and soul of the Indiana Pacers, had defied expectations all postseason. But leading into the Finals, the All-Star guard was battling a nagging hamstring issue.
Despite his best efforts, Haliburton looked diminished in Game 7 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. His usually sharp playmaking and scoring touch were missing when his team needed them most.
The Pacers fell just short of capturing their first-ever title, as the Thunder seized the moment — and the championship.
Indiana fans are left to wonder: What if Haliburton had been 100%? Would there be a banner hanging in Gainbridge Fieldhouse right now?
🔮 A League Forever Changed by Heartbreak
These moments remind us that as much as skill, strategy, and talent define the NBA, so too does the unpredictable hand of fate.
One injury. One slip. One missed opportunity.
They don’t just break hearts — they shift power, rewrite legac
ies, and leave us all wondering:
What if?
