With less than a week to go before the start of NBA Season 2024-25, several notable players are still nursing injuries. These players are essential to their respective team's success and their absence would be very hard to compensate for. Here are the some of the big names starting the season on the bench or will have to be "managed" throughout the season.
Kawhi Leonard (Los Angeles Clippers) – Since his second championship with the Toronto Raptors in 2019, the Klaw has been beset with successive injuries that has impacted his availability. He had an ACL in his right knee in the 2021 playoffs missing the entire next season (2021-22). He then tore the meniscus on the same knee in the 2023 playoffs. He is currently dealing with "knee inflammation" and is out indefinitely. With fellow superstar Paul George walking in the offseason, the Clippers will have a very big hole to fill.
Kristaps Porzingis (Boston Celtics) – It's true that the Celtics can still win tough games without Porzingis like they did when they dominated the 2024 Playoffs and the NBA Finals enroute to Banner 18. However, the Celtics will now have more challenges in the Atlantic as they will play more games against division rivals New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers. The Knicks acquired stars Mikal Bridges and Karl Anthony-Towns while the 76ers added Paul George. The Celtics will miss the length and shooting of Porzingis until his return in late December.
Khris Middleton (Milwaukee Bucks) – Middleton was projected to be ready for the start of the season after he underwent surgeries for both his ankles in the offseason. However, he has been held back in some pre-season games including the Bucks' final tune-up match versus Dallas. Middleton is an injury-prone player who hasn't played 70 games since the 2018-19 campaign. At age 33, he is on the wrong side of his prime and any prolonged absence will impact the Bucks.
Isaiah Hartenstein (Oklahoma City Thunder) – He was one of the summer's top free agent acquisitions but unfortunately, he won't be playing for at least a month with a fractured left hand suffered during a recent pre-season game. He was supposed to the Thunder's starting center and was expected to fix the team's rebounding woes (27th in the league last season). While his injury considered minor, his inside presence will surely be missed by the Thunder.
GG Jackson (Memphis Grizzlies) – After a breakout season that saw him being recalled from the G-League following major injuries to the Grizzlies' starting line-up, Jackson's season will be delayed by three months after a broken right foot. Drafted in the second round, Jackson was a revelation where he played several record-breaking games. In the regular season finale on April 14, Jackson scored a career-high 44 points and recorded 12 rebounds versus the Denver Nuggets, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to record 40 points and 10 rebounds in a game at 19 years old.
Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers) – Embiid was shut down during the preseason because of his left knee and it was reported that he will no longer play in back-to-backs and will continue to wear a knee brace. This doesn't augur well for the team that has gone all in with the acquisition of Paul George to team up with the former MVP. While there is no structural damage, betting on Embiid being healthy throughout the season is sure to lose you money.