With the new NBA season beginning, there is a lot of excitement and anticipation surrounding the league. Teams have gotten done with their preseason, allowing head coaches to tinker with their roster combinations and work out their rotations. Players in the league will be raring to go, but some stars will be cautious, while others will have to wait a little bit longer, as they are dealing with some pretty serious injuries.
- Kristaps Porzingis – Boston Celtics
- Nicolas Claxton – Brooklyn Nets
- Kawhi Leonard – LA Clippers
- Christian Wood – Los Angeles Lakers
- Jarred Vanderbilt – Los Angeles Lakers
- Khris Middleton – Milwaukee Bucks
- Mitchell Robinson – New York Knicks
- Joel Embiid – Philadelphia 76ers
- Paul George – Philadelphia 76ers
- Grayson Allen – Phoenix Suns
- Malcolm Brogdon – Washington Wizards
There are several major stars who are starting off the new season hurt, and the severity of their injuries varies. Fadeaway World has put together a list of all the major players dealing with injuries and gives you an estimated prognosis for when to expect their returns.
Kristaps Porzingis – Boston Celtics
Nature of Injury: Ankle/Foot Injuries
Expected Return/No. of Games Missed: December 2024, 20 Games
Kristaps Porzingis will not be available for the start of the Boston Celtics‘ championship defense, as the Latvian big man recovers from surgery to treat undisclosed ankle and foot injuries. He is expected to return in December of 2024, but that prognosis could change based on how his recovery goes.
Porzingis got hurt initially in the Celtics’ first-round series against the Heat but was able to return to play a few games in the NBA Finals. However, he didn’t finish the series against the Mavs, as his foot injuries flared up again.
The loss of Porzingis is huge for the Celtics, as they will have to try and cope without his shot blocking and the floor spacing he provides. Expect veteran Al Horford to take his place in the lineup, as Jrue Holiday, Derrick White, Jayson Tatum, and Jaylen Brown fill out the starting five in his absence.
Last season, Porzingis was phenomenal for the Celtics, making his presence known on both ends of the court, as he averaged 20.1 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.7 steals, and 1.9 blocks per game. The Celtics will miss his production on both ends until he returns to the court in December.
Nicolas Claxton – Brooklyn Nets
Nature of Injury: Hamstring Injury
Expected Return/No. of Games Missed: Nets’ Opening Night, 0 Games
Nicolas Claxton missed the entirety of the Brooklyn Nets‘ preseason due to a hamstring injury. Head coach Jordi Fernandez said ahead of the Nets’ final preseason game that Claxton had been developing well and the entire team was aiming for him to return for the Nets’ season opener against the Atlanta Hawks.
Claxton picked up the injury early into the Nets’ training camp, and the entire coaching and medical staff were alert and cautious about his recovery. Claxton didn’t figure into the team’s preseason plans but should be healthy and available for them come time for their first game.
Claxton is the Nets’ longest-tenured player, and now entering his sixth season, he is expected to take on a leadership role under Fernandez. Last season, he averaged 11.8 points, 9.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 0.6 steals, and 2.1 blocks. The Nets will be glad to see him back for their first game, as he is without a doubt, their defensive anchor.
Kawhi Leonard – LA Clippers
Nature of Injury: Knee Injury
Expected Return/No. of Games Missed: Undetermined
Kawhi Leonard is expected to be out for an undisclosed period of time to start the NBA season. It was reported that Leonard currently has no timetable for his return, and the Clippers are closely monitoring his situation. Leonard didn’t feature in any preseason games, as he was shut down by head coach Ty Lue.
Leonard has struggled with knee injuries his entire career. His latest injury problems resurfaced during the 2024 NBA playoffs when he missed four of the six games against the Mavericks. He was bizarrely pulled from Team USA ahead of the 2024 Olympics due to said injury concerns.
Leonard is by far the best player on the Clippers, and arguably the best two-way player in the NBA when healthy. Not only will the Clippers miss his offensive production, but also his elite defense, as Leonard is one of the few players in the NBA who can competently defend all five positions.
Leonard had his healthiest season for the Clippers last season, as he played 68 games, and averaged 23.7 points, 6.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.6 steals, and 0.9 blocks per game. The Clippers will hope this injury will be the last of Leonard’s tenure with them, and that he returns sooner rather than later.
Christian Wood – Los Angeles Lakers
Nature of Injury: Knee Injury
Expected Return/No. of Games Missed: Early November, 5-10 Games
Christian Wood underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in September. Wood, when speaking during the Lakers media day, told reporters at the start of October that he had two weeks of rehab, followed by another two weeks of ramping up activities before he could return to the court
Should he be cleared to ramp up his recovery, this would put him on track to return around early November, perhaps with a minutes restriction. But there is a chance that Wood will miss up to 10 games with this injury.
Wood has yet to make a major impact with the Lakers, but provides a valuable backup big option off the bench. Without him to start the season, Anthony Davis and Jaxson Hayes are expected to play the bulk of the minutes at the center position.
Christian Wood was brought in last season to be the backup center for the Lakers. In his first season, he played 50 games for the Lakers and averaged 6.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.3 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game. New head coach JJ Redick would like to have more options at the center position and will be hoping that Wood makes a return sooner rather than later.
Jarred Vanderbilt – Los Angeles Lakers
Nature of Injury: Foot Injury
Expected Return/No. of Games Missed: Early November, 6-8 Games
Jarred Vanderbilt is currently still out with a foot injury he sustained in February of this year. Most recently, it was reported that Vanderbilt would be re-evaluated at the beginning of November, after completing his rehab requirements. Upon getting cleared, Vanderbilt is expected to make a return to the Lakers rotation in early November.
Vanderbilt sustained his injury last season during a game against the Celtics, where he limped off the court after what seemed like an innocuous chase after the ball. He did not return for the Lakers after the injury and has been out ever since.
While Vanderbilt is far from an offensive juggernaut for the Lakers, it is his hustle and defense that make him so valuable to the team. Vanderbilt can be trusted to guard some of the most dangerous players on the opposing team, and his absence forces the rest of the squad to step up their game on the defensive end of the court.
Last season, Vanderbilt played just 29 games and averaged 5.2 points, 4.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.2 blocks per game. Fans of the purple and gold will hope that he can bring his signature defensive intensity and effort back to the team early in November, and become a mainstay in the Lakers’ rotation.
Khris Middleton – Milwaukee Bucks
Nature of Injury: Ankle Injury
Expected Return/No. of Games Missed: Opening Week/Late October, 2-3 Games
Khris Middleton is currently recovering from an ankle injury. In some good news this past weekend, Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers confirmed that Middleton has recovered enough to do skill development training at practice, but in order to play in the Bucks’ season opener against the 76ers, Middleton would have to play 5-on-5 basketball in practice.
Middleton is coming off of two ankle surgeries in the summer, which he is currently recovering from. Rivers has been skittish about confirming that Middleton will play opening night, but does think he has a strong chance to do so. Middleton’s ankle injuries have been an issue since February.
Middleton on his best day, is at least the third-best player on the Bucks. The former All-Star is a potent scorer, shooter, and defender, and there is no doubt that the Bucks need him in order to compete for an NBA championship next season. While any time missed is concerning, fans will be glad that Middleton won’t be out for a longer period of time.
Middleton is coming off a decent season, where he played 55 games, and averaged 15.1 points, 5.3 assists, 4.7 rebounds, 0.9 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game. Any championship aspirations for the Bucks depend on Middleton’s healthy and productive return, and Doc Rivers must be eager to have him back in the rotation soon.
Mitchell Robinson – New York Knicks
Nature of Injury: Ankle Injury
Expected Return/No. of Games Missed: January, 31 Games
Mitchell Robinson is out with an ankle injury, with the earliest timetables suggesting that he will only return in January of next year. Robinson could miss a large chunk of the season due to this latest injury, and the Knicks are expected to be cautious with him given his murky injury record in the past.
Robinson underwent ankle surgery in December of last year and was expected to miss the rest of the season. He did return earlier than expected, coming back in March, but then re-injured the same ankle during the Knicks’ second-round series against the Pacers.
Robinson is the best center option for the Knicks, as his rim protection and defense are unmatched at the position on the roster. The Knicks traded for Karl-Anthony Towns recently, and he is expected to plug in at the center spot till Robinson can return, before moving back to power forward when he does arrive.
Last season, Robinson missed a chunk of time due to the aforementioned ankle surgery, but he did play 31 games and averaged 5.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, 0.6 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.1 blocks. Given Karl-Anthony Towns’ struggles at the center position defensively, Tom Thibodeau will be champing at the bit to have Robinson back in the starting lineup soon.
Joel Embiid – Philadelphia 76ers
Nature of Injury: Knee Injury
Expected Return/No. of Games Missed: 76ers’ Season Opener (October), 0 Games
Joel Embiid missed the entirety of the Philadelphia 76ers‘ preseason run due to ‘left knee injury management’. This was done as a precautionary measure so that Embiid could focus on recovering as fast as possible, and the team is currently hoping that the big man will be available for the 76ers’ season opener against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Embiid suffered a serious left lateral meniscus injury that forced him to miss most of the 2023-24 regular season. He was able to return in time for the 76ers’ first-round series against the Knicks, but it was clear that he was playing through the pain, despite putting on great performances.
Embiid played also big minutes during the 2024 Olympics with Team USA, which took a toll on his health. For the 76ers, Embiid is just part of the puzzle they have to worry about, as his absence from the team, should it go past the projected opening night, could cause them to fall behind the rest of the East, especially considering the other injury problems.
Embiid had a solid season with the 76ers, as he averaged 34.7 points, 11.0 rebounds 5.6 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.7 blocks in 39 games. The 76ers will be hopeful the former MVP will be available for them on opening night, but regardless, they don’t expect to wait too long for him.
Paul George – Philadelphia 76ers
Nature of Injury: Hyper-extended Knee (Bone Bruise)
Expected Return/No. Of Games Missed: Undetermined
Paul George hyper-extended his knee during the 76ers’ preseason game against the Atlanta Hawks. George himself spoke in the immediate aftermath of the injury and quelled concerns surrounding the seriousness of the injury. He is expected to be re-evaluated for his bone bruise this coming week, and that will determine the timeline for his return.
This was one of the concerns surrounding George’s arrival with the 76ers, as the franchise has already seen injury issues with their stars derail their progress. The hope right now will be that George can make a speedy recovery and return to the squad as early as possible, but the priority will be ensuring that he is in full health first.
George was brought in to replace James Harden as the second option on the 76ers. He is still one of the best two-way players in the NBA and can play a key role on a championship contender, as the 76ers hope to be. His absence will be felt on both ends of the court, and the 76ers will try to replicate his production through their bench.
Paul George signed with the 76ers on the back of a solid season with the Clippers, where he averaged 22.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.5 steals, and 0.5 blocks per game. His addition to the 76ers elevated them into the realm of legitimate contenders, and every game he misses, the 76ers risk falling from that category, so his return will be of paramount importance to them.
Grayson Allen – Phoenix Suns
Nature of Injury: Achilles Injury
Expected Return/No. of Games Missed: Late October, 5 games
Grayson Allen is recovering from an Achilles injury and is yet to resume full-contact practice as of last week. Head coach Mike Budenholzer didn’t give away much information about the recovery process for Allen, aside from noting that they haven’t done any basketball work yet in their ramp-up.
It hasn’t been revealed how Allen got injured, but the presumption is that he suffered the injury during training camp. Given how quickly Allen is back rehabbing, one can assume it is not a severe injury. But the Suns have remained tight-lipped about Allen’s recovery.
Allen was by far the Suns’ best three-point shooter last season and also put in a lot of effort on defense. His 3-and-D specialties cannot be matched by anyone else on the roster, and the Suns will not want to be without Allen for too long going into a new NBA season.
Allen proved his worth to the Suns last season, averaging 13.5 points, 3.9 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game. Given the Suns are still trying to figure out how to play their big three of Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal, they will need Allen back as early as possible to work out their schematics.
Malcolm Brogdon – Washington Wizards
Nature of Injury: Thumb Injury
Expected Return/No. of Games Missed: Undetermined
Malcolm Brogdon underwent surgery this past month to recover from a torn ligament in his right thumb, which is part of his shooting hand. There is no confirmed or estimated timeline provided for Brogdon’s return, and the Wizards will be without the former Rookie of the Year for quite some time.
It would behoove the Wizards to allow Brogdon to take his time. The franchise is expected to tank in order to land a high draft pick in next year’s stacked draft class. But Brogdon’s injury details being kept so private might be a sign that he isn’t expected to return anytime soon.
Malcolm Brogdon will play for the Wizards for the first time this season, as he was traded to the franchise this past summer in exchange for Deni Avdija going to the Trail Blazers. His scoring ability and ball distribution will be very useful for the Wizards, especially with players like Kyle Kuzma and Jordan Poole struggling for consistency and finishing.
In his last season with the Trail Blazers, Brogdon put up solid numbers, averaging 15.7 points, 5.5 assists, 3.8 rebounds, 0.7 steals, and 0.2 blocks. The Wizards are desperate for a player to orchestrate their offense and will be waiting for bated breath for him to return to fitness.
With these key stars out for their respective teams, the start of the NBA season is going to be interesting, to say the least. Which of these teams will best cope with the lack of their key players, and which of them will capitulate before their star returns? We’ll have our answers soon enough when the NBA season tips off this Wednesday.
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