NBA: Each team’s greatest comeback from injury in franchise history

Greatest injury comeback in Dallas Mavericks history: Wesley Matthews

Ruptured left Achilles’ heel

Wesley Matthews was having quite the productive career in the NBA with the Portland Trail Blazers, then all of a sudden, things took a slight turn on the negative side.

Toward the end of the 2014-15 season, Matthews was dribbling in transition for a breakaway dunk when he went down in a heap with a ruptured left Achilles’ heel. During a season he was averaging 2.9 3-point makes per game and 15.9 points per game on 38.9 percent shooting from behind the arc, his career took a grim hit with the injury.

Despite the recovery window and how tough it is to get back to the court from the injury, Matthews managed to return to the court 12 weeks after surgery and in time for the Dallas Mavericks season opener in 2015-16.

Matthews signed a four-year, $70 million deal with the Mavericks in the offseason and their risk paid off as he was back to his usual self. He produced 12.5 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game through 78 appearances.

His average went up to 13.5 points per game in 2016-17 as he appeared in 73 games, showing no signs of wear from his Achilles’ injury. Now, Matthews is a member of the Indiana Pacers, where he’s put up 14.0 points, 2.6 rebounds and 2.1 assists per contest through eight games so far. He’s still producing at an efficient rate from 3-point range too, shooting 42.1 percent from behind the arc.

He continues to excel despite his injury with no signs of slowing down. As the season continues, he could be a catalyst in the Pacers push to the postseason.