A middle-aged participant collapsed on the court during an IShowSpeed basketball stream after what appeared to be a serious knee injury. The man went down immediately after landing awkwardly, clutching his knee as viewers heard a loud popping sound through the stream.
The audio captured the moment clearly. That distinct pop is often associated with ACL tears, one of the most serious injuries an athlete can face. The man reportedly told those around him that he knew he had torn his ACL right when it happened.
A medic was already on-site and reached the injured man within seconds. The medical professional quickly performed what viewers recognized as a Lachman test, a standard field assessment used to check for ACL damage. The test involves moving the shin bone forward while stabilizing the thigh to feel for abnormal looseness in the knee joint.
The anterior cruciate ligament is one of four major ligaments in the knee. It prevents the shin bone from sliding too far forward and provides rotational stability during cutting and pivoting movements. ACL tears typically happen during non-contact movements like sudden stops, direction changes, or awkward landings from jumps.
These injuries are immediate and unmistakable. People often report hearing or feeling a pop, followed by the knee giving way and rapid swelling. The knee becomes unstable and painful to bear weight on.
Most active individuals who tear their ACL opt for surgical reconstruction, which involves replacing the damaged ligament with a graft from another tendon. The moment drew comparisons to comedian Tom Segura’s viral basketball injury, where he broke his arm during a dunk attempt.
