Andrew Pace
Kevin Ware suffered one of the most gruesome injuries in basketball history on March 31, 2013, while playing for the University of Louisville. Ware landed awkwardly on his right leg, causing an open fracture that protruded several inches out of his shin. Ware underwent a two-hour surgery to repair the fracture and insert rods to stabilize the bone. Despite this career-threatening injury, Ware returned to competitive basketball just seven months later during an exhibition game, receiving a standing ovation from the crowd. Ware's resilience and determination allowed him to continue his basketball career, playing for various teams in North America, Europe, and Asia.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of injury | 31 March 2013 |
| Time out of basketball | 7-8 months |
| Return to basketball | 2013-2014 season |
| Date of return | November 2013 |
| Opponent | Cornell |
| Number of minutes played | 13 |
| Number of points scored | 5 |
| Number of rebounds | 2 |
| Number of assists | 1 |
| Number of games played in the 2013-2014 season | 9 |
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What You'll Learn
Kevin Ware's gruesome injury
On March 31, 2013, during the first half of an Elite Eight game against Duke, Kevin Ware, a backup point guard for the Louisville Cardinals, suffered a gruesome injury that shocked the sports world. As Ware jumped to block a shot, he landed awkwardly on his right leg, resulting in an open fracture. The tibia bone popped out of his leg, and the injury was visible to everyone present. The stadium fell into a state of shock and horror, with players from both teams in tears. Ware, displaying remarkable courage, lay on the ground and shouted to his teammates, "I'm fine, just win the game."
Ware's injury is considered one of the most gruesome and shocking injuries in the history of basketball, if not all sports. The injury left a long scar on his shin, which he covered with a white stocking or tights during his recovery. Ware's resilience and determination to return to the sport inspired many, and he received support and sympathy from NBA players and other athletes who had experienced similar injuries.
Ware's recovery from this horrific injury was a long road. He returned to competitive basketball during the 2013-14 season, playing in an exhibition game against the University of Pikeville. He received a standing ovation upon entering the game and again when he scored his first shot, finishing with six points and four rebounds. Ware played in nine games that season.
After his recovery, Ware decided to transfer from Louisville and join Georgia State University for a fresh start. The NCAA granted him a waiver to play immediately, and he started for Georgia State in the 2014-15 season. Ware went on to have a successful career at Georgia State, winning the 2015 Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Tournament MVP award and leading his team to victory in the championship game.
Ware never made it to the NBA but continued his professional basketball career overseas. He played for various teams in Europe and Canada, including the London Lightning of the National Basketball League of Canada, with whom he signed in 2018. Ware's journey demonstrates his perseverance and dedication to the sport, overcoming a devastating injury to continue playing and pursuing his passion for basketball.
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Ware's quick recovery
On March 31, 2013, during the first half of an Elite Eight game against Duke, Kevin Ware, a backup point guard for the Louisville Cardinals, suffered a gruesome injury. As Ware landed after jumping to block a shot, his tibia bone popped out of his leg, causing an open fracture that protruded several inches out of his shin. The injury shocked the entire stadium, with Ware's teammates left in tears.
Despite this horrific injury, Ware's career was far from over. He underwent a successful two-hour surgery to repair the fracture, and the procedure allowed him to recover within a few months. Ware returned to competitive basketball during an exhibition game against the University of Pikeville, receiving a standing ovation from the crowd. He played nine games that season, averaging 3.1 points per game during his time with Louisville from 2011 to 2014.
Ware's journey after his injury took him across the globe, playing for teams in Finland, the Czech Republic, Greece, England, Canada, Iraq, Serbia, and Argentina. He continued to pursue his NBA dreams, signing with the London Lions in 2020 and later joining Novi Pazar of the Serbian league in 2021. Ware's talent and determination kept him in the game, and his story serves as an inspiration for athletes facing similar challenges.
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Ware's return to basketball
Kevin Ware suffered a gruesome injury on March 31, 2013, while playing for the Louisville Cardinals. Ware landed awkwardly on his right leg, causing an open fracture. The injury shocked the sports world and was widely circulated on social media. Despite this setback, Ware's career was far from over.
Ware underwent a successful two-hour surgery to repair the fracture, and he was able to return to competitive basketball within a few months. His first game back was an exhibition match against the University of Pikeville, where he received a standing ovation and finished with six points and four rebounds. Ware's return to the court was met with support from NBA players and other athletes, who shared their sympathies and offered their advice.
After his recovery, Ware decided to transfer to Georgia State University, where he started the 2014-15 season with two years of eligibility. Ware thrived at Georgia State, becoming a Sun Belt Conference star and leading his team to victory in the 2015 Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Tournament. He was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player (MVP). Ware's performance earned Georgia State a spot in the NCAA Tournament, where they upset third-seeded Baylor in the first round.
Ware's resilience and determination to return to basketball paid off as he continued his career, playing for various teams around the world. He played professionally in Finland, the Czech Republic, Greece, England, Canada, Iraq, Serbia, and Argentina. Ware also signed with the London Lions in England's British Basketball League and played for Al Naft Baghdad in the Iraqi Basketball League in 2022.
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Ware's transfer to Georgia State University
Kevin Ware suffered a gruesome open fracture of the tibia in his right leg during a game against Duke on March 31, 2013, while playing for the University of Louisville. This incident gained widespread media attention. Ware returned to competitive basketball during an exhibition game before the 2013-2014 season, receiving a standing ovation from the crowd. However, he only played nine regular-season games before re-aggravating his injury and sitting out the rest of the season.
Ware announced his decision to transfer from Louisville and chose Georgia State University over Tennessee and Auburn. He officially transferred to Georgia State on April 12, 2014, with the NCAA granting him a waiver to play immediately without sitting out a year, as was typically required for transfers. Ware started for Georgia State in the 2014-2015 season as a point guard. He quickly gelled with his new teammates and found success on the court.
Ware was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 2015 Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Tournament, where he led Georgia State to victory in the championship game. This win earned Georgia State a spot in the NCAA Tournament, where they upset third-seeded Baylor in the first round before ultimately falling to Xavier in the second round. Ware's performance and leadership during this tournament run were instrumental in Georgia State's success.
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Ware's career after the injury
Kevin Ware suffered a gruesome open fracture of the tibia during a game in March 2013, which shocked the sports world. Ware underwent surgery to repair the fracture and insert rods to set the bone in place. Despite the severity of the injury, Ware was able to return to competitive basketball within a few months. He made his comeback during an exhibition game against the University of Pikeville, receiving a standing ovation from the crowd and finishing with six points and four rebounds.
In April 2014, Ware transferred to Georgia State University to start a new chapter in his basketball career. He was granted a waiver by the NCAA to become immediately eligible and appeared in 65 games over two seasons with the Panthers. Ware was named the Most Valuable Player of the 2015 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball tournament, leading Georgia State to victory.
Ware then set his sights on the NBA, declaring for the NBA draft in 2016. Unfortunately, he went undrafted. Ware signed with the Czech team BC Brno in November 2016, followed by a stint with the Greek team Faros Larissas in 2017. He continued his journey in Canada, signing with the London Lightning of the National Basketball League in 2018. Ware found a welcoming environment in London, away from the intense media scrutiny he faced in the US.
Ware's career took him to new destinations in the following years. He signed with the London Lions for the 2020-21 BBL season and later joined Novi Pazar of the Serbian league in 2021. Ware's talent and perseverance kept him in the game, and in 2022, he signed with Al Naft Baghdad of the Iraqi Basketball League. Despite the challenges and setbacks, Ware's determination to pursue his passion for basketball remains an inspiring story of resilience.
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Frequently asked questions
Kevin Ware suffered a gruesome injury on March 31, 2013, and returned to competitive basketball the following season, less than a year later.
Ware's injury was a compound fracture, which was repaired with a two-hour surgery. He was able to heal within a few months, and his first game back was an exhibition match against the University of Pikeville.
Ware transferred from Louisville to Georgia State University in 2014, where he played for two seasons. He then played professionally in Finland, the Czech Republic, Greece, England, Canada, Iraq, Serbia, Argentina, and for the London Lions in the British Basketball League.
No, Ware declared for the NBA draft in 2016 but went undrafted.
