On Oct. 17, 2017, as the entire basketball world watched the opening night of the NBA season, the buzz and hype slowed down and concern skyrocketed when Boston Celtics superstar Gordon Hayward suffered a gruesome leg injury.

In the Celtics’ game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, with 6:45 minutes remaining in the first quarter, Hayward fractured his left tibia and dislocated his left ankle as he was going up to finish an alley-oop set up by his teammate Kyrie Irving. Hayward fell to the floor with his leg looking extremely awkward, and the game was stopped and the entire stadium was silent.

The injury reminded fans of career-threatening basketball injuries of the past, such as those to Paul George, Shaun Livingston, and even Kevin Ware, and basketball fans and players across the world sent their prayers and condolences to Hayward.

Hayward certainly isn’t the only athlete dealing with a major injury. On the football field, many of the game’s top players have suffered season-ending injuries this year. The list features formers MVPs, Pro Bowlers, and other star players.

The injuries to NFL players are really piling up, as there are currently 331 NFL players that have been placed on injured reserve just this season. Already dealing with multiple concussion lawsuits due to retired players dealing with CTE, the NFL could be in huge trouble if the injuries to their players continue to add up.

This applies to the NBA to a lesser degree because there have been too many instances of players landing awkwardly or tweaking something that resulted in major injuries. While football is simply a very dangerous sport, the NBA’s 82-game regular season definitely contributes to the amount of injuries that their players deal with.

The NFL and the NBA will take such injuries into consideration when determining the future of their respective sports, since it is becoming increasingly common to see athletes call it quits before or during their primes because they consider it unnecessary to risk their bodies day in and day out.

In a school setting, injuries, although much less common, are also a major issue. Senior Vanessa Bahamondes tore her meniscus while playing soccer during a game.

“At first I was hyperventilating and when the pain set in, it was so bad,” Bahamondes said. “I was in tears and all I wanted was for it to stop.”

From the NBA to the NFL to representing one’s school, injuries are not only horrific circumstances in the moment, but they also have significant long-term effects. Bahamondes reported having intermittent pain and swelling and said that she “could barely walk for six weeks” and has “permanent damage.” This sort of long-lasting pain and damage is suffered by a variety of other athletes, who sometimes deal with injuries that hurt their athletic performance, keep them out of action for multiple years, or even end their careers.

Professional athletes receive expert advice on how to prevent injuries, but sometimes there is nothing that can be done to stop them. Technology will improve and help athletes stay away from medical facilities, but it is impossible to completely wipe out all possibilities of an injury occurring. People can be as prepared and cautious as they want, but at the end of the day, it’s an inevitable part of the world of sports.