New York, U.S. – During the NBA’s annual sports medicine consortium held on Wednesday, team physicians candidly acknowledged that their medical expertise largely revolves around the lower body, particularly the legs.
The surprising revelation has sparked conversations about the narrow focus of healthcare professionals working in elite sports.
Speaking to reporters, Harold Riley, the Brooklyn Nets’ medical director, openly admitted that while the league employs approximately 125 team physicians, their knowledge is overwhelmingly concentrated on leg-related injuries.
“To be completely honest, we mostly just have expertise on the stuff that matters for our players—namely, the two legs,” Riley stated.
He explained that while conditions such as torn ACLs and other leg-related injuries are well within their scope of care, issues beyond the lower body often leave them uncertain.
“We only have a vague idea what the deal is with toes. Everything in the chest is a total mystery. Presumably, there are bones and stuff. And maybe arms are kind of like shorter, stubbier legs? But I wouldn’t really feel confident saying either way,” Riley added humorously.
Riley also noted that many team physicians divide responsibilities with a colleague, each specialising in either the left or right leg to maintain focused expertise.
This division reflects the critical role the lower body plays in basketball, where injuries such as ankle sprains and knee issues are among the most common.
The remarks, while delivered with a degree of levity, raise important questions about the scope of care provided by medical professionals in the league and the need for broader medical expertise to ensure comprehensive healthcare for athletes.
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