By NBA insiders | ESPN, 2025-10-14 19:00:00
由生成式人工智能翻译，译文内容可能不准确或不完整，以原文为准。
距离2025-26 NBA赛季于10月21日正式拉开帷幕仅剩一周，届时我们将看到一些熟悉的面孔和新秀们准备登场献技。
维克托·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama) 将在新赛季开始时健康回归，此前他因右肩血栓问题于去年二月赛季报销。此外，锡安·威廉姆森 (Zion Williamson) 也将归来，上赛季他因各种伤病仅为新奥尔良鹈鹕队出战了30场比赛。
不过，你可能还需要等待一段时间才能看到几位著名超级巨星在本赛季的首秀。据ESPN的沙姆斯·查拉尼亚 (Shams Charania) 报道，洛杉矶湖人队的领军人物勒布朗·詹姆斯 (LeBron James) 预计将缺席三到四周。另外，凯里·欧文 (Kyrie Irving) 似乎也正在从去年三月导致赛季报销的前交叉韧带撕裂伤病中努力恢复。
在我们被卷入常规赛的洪流之前，我们的NBA资深记者将为您带来关键球员的最新伤情，并分析在揭幕周期间谁已准备好上演瞩目的回归，以及随着常规赛的推进，又有哪些球员值得我们密切关注。
整装待发
锡安·威廉姆森 (Zion Williamson)，前锋，新奥尔良鹈鹕队
我们曾见过瘦版约基奇，之后瘦版东契奇又在《男士健康》杂志封面上惊艳亮相。如今，轮到瘦版锡安让人们对本赛季的鹈鹕队议论纷纷，他似乎已经恢复到了自杜克大学时期被誉为一代人一遇的天才以来的最佳体型。威廉姆森将功劳归于鹈鹕队的体能与运动科学总监丹尼尔·博夫 (Daniel Bove)，感谢他在自己从困扰了整个上赛季的腿筋伤病中康复时，通过拳击和在橄榄球场上训练帮助他重塑了身体。
在联盟的六个赛季里，威廉姆SON仅有两次出场次数达到或超过60场，上赛季在仅出战30场比赛后，他因骨挫伤于三月份赛季报销。
“我的身体确实感到了转变，以至于我会看着[博夫]说，‘伙计，感觉良好真的太棒了。’ 自从大学、高中以来，我再也没有过这种感觉，就是走进体育馆时，我感觉状态绝佳。” – 奥姆·杨米苏克 (Ohm Youngmisuk)
安东尼·戴维斯 (Anthony Davis)，前锋，达拉斯独行侠队
在接受了修复右眼视网膜脱落的休赛期手术后，戴维斯在训练营开始前数周就已获得完全的医学许可。遵医嘱，他将在整个职业生涯的剩余时间里佩戴防护镜，因此他会利用季前赛来适应它，同时减掉他带入训练营的15磅多余体重。这位身高6英尺10英寸、目前体重为268磅的戴维斯淡化了外界对他体重的担忧，称带着稍重的体重参加训练营对他来说是正常情况。“我从不希望以我的比赛体重进入训练营，因为那样在赛季中我体重会下降，变得太瘦小了，”戴维斯说道。“我通常会很快减掉10到12磅……所以我从不担心这个。我感觉很棒，移动出色，状态很好。” – 蒂姆·麦克马洪 (Tim MacMahon)
克里斯塔普斯·波尔津吉斯 (Kristaps Porzingis)，中锋，亚特兰大老鹰队
波尔津吉斯在亚特兰大找到了新家。这位中锋此前曾受一种神秘的伤病困扰，导致他在为波士顿凯尔特人队效力的最后六场比赛中仅有一场出场时间超过20分钟。如今，他表示自己感觉好多了。
“老实说，我仍然没有一个确切的答案，”当在老鹰队媒体日被问及困扰他的问题时，波尔津吉斯回答道。“他们对此有过某种解释，但问题一直挥之不去。那是最艰难的部分。有些天我感觉还好，精力充沛，但有些天，‘砰’的一声，我就垮了。我很高兴现在它已经消失了。”
波尔津吉斯在去年夏天代表拉脱维亚国家队参加了欧锦赛，他表示那次比赛帮助他为即将到来的赛季恢复了状态。老鹰队需要一个健康的波尔津吉斯来为特雷·杨 (Trae Young) 和球队拉开场上空间，并在篮下提供防守威慑力，以便在东部展开竞争。
“我不知道，也许是我的身体系统在夏天需要一次重置，”波尔津吉斯说。“我真的很高兴能有这个夏天，恢复体型，参加比赛，我再次感觉充满自信，好像我的体能储备又回来了。” – 杨米苏克
拉梅洛·鲍尔 (LaMelo Ball)，后卫，夏洛特黄蜂队
鲍尔在休赛期的大部分时间都在力量房里锻炼以增强体魄。由于伤病，他在过去三个赛季总共只出战了105场比赛——最近一次是上赛季因脚踝和手腕手术而赛季报销——鲍尔决心要留在场上。
本季前赛至今，主教练查尔斯·李 (Charles Lee) 和鲍尔都谈到这位明星控卫本赛季需要挺身而出，更多地领导黄蜂队。李教练表示，他已经看到他的控卫通过增肌在力量房里展现出了一些领导力。
“我注意到了他在那个领域投入程度的不同，”李教练在黄蜂队媒体日上说。“梅洛注意到他总是要面对对方最好、身体对抗最强的防守者。有时，他们确实给他制造了困难。”
“所以今年，对他来说增加力量房训练这一环非常重要……我认为他增加了瘦肌肉量，也增加了体重。” – 杨米苏克
维克托·文班亚马 (Victor Wembanyama)，中锋，圣安东尼奥马刺队
上赛季，文班亚马因右肩深静脉血栓仅出战了46场比赛。这激励他在休赛期以前所未有的方式在身心上挑战自我。他尝试了非传统的训练方法，比如在中国的一座少林寺进行了为期10天的静修，期间包含了冥想和功夫训练，并花时间与休斯顿火箭队的传奇人物哈基姆·奥拉朱旺 (Hakeem Olajuwon) 一同训练。
早期的成果看起来相当喜人。他在季前赛中碾压防守者，并在球场各处送出封盖。文班亚马已完全康复，身体控制能力得到提升，上下肢力量也均有增强。据这位21岁的年轻人透露，深静脉血栓复发的机会非常低。– 迈克尔·C·莱特 (Michael C. Wright)
泰瑞斯·马克西 (Tyrese Maxey)，后卫，费城76人队
上赛季，马克西因手指受伤缺席了最后几周的比赛——这只是那个赛季中众多伤病之一，即使以76人队的标准来看，那个赛季也感觉像是被诅咒了一样。如今，马克西已经康复，并准备好迎接新赛季的开始。
他参加了上周在阿布扎比的两场表演赛，并有望以首发控卫的身份开启新赛季。考虑到费城队目前正面临的其他众多伤病问题，马克西能够准备就绪，对主教练尼克·纳斯 (Nick Nurse) 来说无疑是天籁之音。– 蒂姆·邦坦普斯 (Tim Bontemps)
贾·莫兰特 (Ja Morant)，后卫，孟菲斯灰熊队
莫兰特在媒体日上所说的“打满82场”的目标已经岌岌可危。在灰熊队季前赛揭幕战前一天的训练中，他扭伤了左脚踝，目前被列为每周观察。莫兰特飞天遁地的打法使耐用性成为这位明星后卫的一大问题。正因如此，其人气由劲爆的空中表演助推的莫兰特，上赛季宣称他“完全不打算扣篮”，将保护自己置于取悦球迷之上。自2023-24赛季初服完25场禁赛以来，莫兰特仅出战了59场比赛。在此期间，他因肩部、臀部、大腿、膝盖、背部、脚部、腿筋和脚踝等多种伤病而缺阵。– 麦克马洪
揭幕战成疑
小贾伦·杰克逊 (Jaren Jackson Jr.)，前锋，孟菲斯灰熊队
杰克逊能否出战10月22日的赛季揭幕战尚存疑问，他正在从七月初为修复右脚草地脚趾伤而进行的手术中恢复。灰熊队在训练营开始时宣布，杰克逊将在四到六周内复出，这将这位两届全明星的回归时间表定在了十月底或十一月初。手术是在杰克逊正式同意一份五年2.4亿美元的续约合同几天后进行的，但灰熊队管理层在敲定该合同时已经知晓伤病的严重性。– 麦克马洪
勒布朗·詹姆斯 (LeBron James)，前锋，洛杉矶湖人队
无论詹姆斯本赛季何时首次登场，他都将创造历史，成为唯一一位征战了23个赛季的NBA球员。但这是他职业生涯中首次在赛季揭幕战前受伤，终结了他连续22年出战赛季第一场比赛的纪录。据湖人队透露，詹姆斯正遭受身体右侧的坐骨神经痛困扰，未来两到三周内不会进行重新评估，并且到目前为止，他在训练营中仅限于进行轻度投篮训练，缺席了每一次训练和季前赛。
消息人士告诉ESPN的沙姆斯·查拉尼亚，詹姆斯是在七月底或八月初的一次场上训练中受伤的。他在球队媒体日上暗示了这次伤病，当时他告诉ESPN：“我（身体上）还没达到我想要的状态。”詹姆斯还表示，在康复期间他会确保与球队保持紧密联系。“我的存在将会很重要，”詹姆斯告诉ESPN。“要确保即使我不在场上，我也时刻关注着我们在做什么——这样我就能随时了解情况。” – 戴夫·麦克梅纳明 (Dave McMenamin)
扎克·伊迪 (Zach Edey)，中锋，孟菲斯灰熊队
根据灰熊队在训练营开始时宣布的时间表，伊迪在从休赛期的脚踝手术中恢复期间，将至少缺席赛季的前两周。当时，球队表示伊迪可以在六到九周内复出。该时间表的上限将是十一月的最后一个周末。替补中锋布兰登·克拉克 (Brandon Clarke) 也将因膝关节镜手术的恢复而在赛季初缺阵，因此灰熊队的前场深度将出现明显不足。孟菲斯将不得不严重依赖休赛期引进的、辗转多队的球员乔克·兰代尔 (Jock Landale)，他在四年NBA生涯中效力过三支球队，场均出场时间为12.8分钟。– 麦克马洪
杰伦·威廉姆斯 (Jalen Williams)，前锋，俄克拉荷马城雷霆队
威廉姆斯最初是在常规赛末段与菲尼克斯的德文·布克 (Devin Booker) 争抢地板球时手腕严重受伤——舟月韧带撕裂。他带伤坚持比赛，据他估计，在雷霆队的夺冠之旅中，他打了近30针止痛针。这导致他的手术推迟到7月1日，并附带一个为期12周的复查期，该期限刚好在训练营前结束。
球队尚未正式宣布威廉姆斯是否会出战常规赛揭幕战，但他还未参加训练中的对抗环节，只被看到在场边进行个人训练，主要使用他的左手。“（恢复）还有一段路要走，”威廉姆斯在媒体日上说。– 安东尼·斯莱特 (Anthony Slater)
贾里德·麦凯恩 (Jared McCain)，后卫，费城76人队
上赛季，麦凯恩本已在赢得联盟年度最佳新秀奖的道路上一路领先，但一次半月板受伤让他的赛季在去年十二月仅出战23场后戛然而止——这加剧了上赛季困扰费城队的伤病魔咒。不过，虽然麦凯恩已经从那次伤病中完全康复，但他在上个月又撕裂了右（投篮）手拇指的肌腱并需要手术，这个问题将导致他缺席常规赛初期的比赛。
尽管76人队拥有充足的后卫线深度，但他们也希望让麦凯恩与泰瑞斯·马克西和六月选秀中的三号秀VJ·艾治甘 (VJ Edgecombe) 一同登场。– 邦坦普斯
德阿隆·福克斯 (De’Aaron Fox)，后卫，圣安东尼奥马刺队
去年三月，福克斯选择接受赛季报销的手术，以修复他左手小指的肌腱损伤，并从那次伤病中顺利恢复。然而，他在夏天的训练中又遭遇了右腿筋拉伤，这让他能否出战圣安东尼奥于10月22日客场对阵达拉斯的赛季揭幕战成为疑问。福克斯承认他将缺席季前赛，并对自己能否为揭幕战做好准备表示怀疑。
但在内部，球队对福克斯的恢复进展感到鼓舞。值得注意的是，圣安东尼奥在处理球员伤愈复出问题上传统上倾向于采取保守谨慎的态度。当然，球队阵容中后卫线上人才济济，包括上赛季的NBA年度最佳新秀斯蒂芬·卡斯尔 (Stephon Castle) 和二号秀迪伦·哈珀 (Dylan Harper)，这也为球队提供了缓冲。– 莱特
德章泰·穆雷 (Dejounte Murray)，后卫，新奥尔良鹈鹕队
穆雷每周有六天都在训练室里进行康复训练，努力从一月底遭遇的右脚跟腱断裂中恢复过来，他有可能在今年一月复出。
这位控球后卫在来到新奥尔良的第一个赛季仅出战31场比赛，当时他还受到手部骨折的困扰，因此他渴望能够重返赛场。在通过交易从亚特兰大加盟后，穆雷场均贡献17.5分、7.4次助攻、6.5个篮板和2.0次抢断。
“我一直在享受看到恢复进展的乐趣，因为我知道在受伤那天，我根本无法走路，也感觉不到我的小腿。这是一个挑战，我接受了它。” – 杨米苏克
归期未定
乔尔·恩比德 (Joel Embiid)，中锋，费城76人队
对76人队及其球迷来说，这是一种再熟悉不过的感觉——非常不幸——联盟中没有比恩比德，特别是他那麻烦不断的左膝，更大的健康问题了。在超过一年的时间里，恩比德何时能够恢复状态，或者说是否还能恢复，一直是个未知数，他在上个月的媒体日上重申了这一点。
“我受过太多伤了，”恩比德说。“我一直告诉自己的唯一一件事就是，你不能放弃。”
尽管恩比德和76人队都没有放弃这位超级中锋重返2023赛季赢得联盟MVP奖项时的主宰状态，但目前仍不清楚他何时能重返赛场，无论是在赛季初还是之后的某个时间。– 邦坦普斯
达里厄斯·加兰 (Darius Garland)，后卫，克利夫兰骑士队
在季后赛受到草地脚趾伤的影响后，加兰选择在六月接受手术，这很可能导致他缺席常规赛的前几周。加兰上周在媒体日上表示，他的恢复进展按计划进行，他已经开始跑步和进行场上训练。在季前赛开始时，他仍未参加球队的合练，并且预计不会出战任何表演赛。
但克利夫兰已经明确表示，他们不会催促加兰复出——考虑到骑士队希望能够打到六月份，而要实现这一目标，他们需要一个百分之百健康的加兰。– 邦坦普斯
保罗·乔治 (Paul George)，前锋，费城76人队
在被宣布因休赛期训练受伤而接受了关节镜手术后，乔治能否在赛季初复出仍不明朗——在他2024-25赛季的首个赛季仅出战一半比赛后，这是一个不祥之兆。
已经进行了一些场上训练的乔治说：“我确实认为我会处于一个不错的状态，希望是宜早不宜迟。情况不会比去年更糟了。那是一个跌入谷底的赛季。”
上个赛季是否真的是最糟糕的情况，我们拭目以待，但76人队肯定希望乔治能在揭幕夜或之后不久回归。– 邦坦普斯
凯里·欧文 (Kyrie Irving)，后卫，达拉斯独行侠队
主教练杰森·基德 (Jason Kidd) 特意反驳了外界认为欧文从三月初的ACL撕裂伤中恢复“进度超前”的看法。但欧文的进步是显而易见的，而且他毫不避讳地在媒体开放时段的训练后展示了恢复成果。
欧文不仅仅是在进行定点跳投。他正在打磨他传奇般的单打技巧，通过一两次运球的动作来对抗球队工作人员的防守。在这些训练中，他经常与状元秀库珀·弗拉格 (Cooper Flagg) 轮流进行，帮助这位18岁的新秀传授一些技巧。
欧文何时能与弗拉格一同参加正式比赛？33岁的欧文不想设定一个具体的目标日期，他更倾向于全身心投入到日常的训练中。独行侠队会乐于看到欧文在全明星周末前后回归阵容，那将给他大约两个月的时间来找回状态并提升强度，为季后赛做准备。– 麦克马洪
劳里·马尔卡宁 (Lauri Markkanen)，前锋，犹他爵士队
多种伤病，尤其是下背部问题，导致马尔卡宁上赛季仅出战了职业生涯新低的47场比赛。但他在夏天强势反弹，看起来很健康，在欧锦赛上率领芬兰队闯入铜牌争夺战，并在爆冷击败尼古拉·约基奇 (Nikola Jokic) 和塞尔维亚队的比赛中贡献了29分、8个篮板、4次助攻和3次抢断。马尔卡宁在比赛中左手腕受伤，这迫使他缺席了季前赛，并在球队训练营的大部分时间里受到限制。马尔卡宁表示他每天都在进行康复，感觉越来越好，并且正在取得进展，但他补充说他“不确定确切的复出日期”。– 莱特
点击查看原文：Biggest injury returns for the 2025-26 NBA season
Biggest injury returns for the 2025-26 NBA season
We’re a week away from opening tipoff for the 2025-26 NBA season with a few familiar faces and some new ones ready to take the court starting Oct. 21.
Victor Wembanyama will be back and healthy to start the season after being shut down last February because of a blood clot in his right shoulder. And Zion Williamson will be back after playing in only 30 games last season for the New Orleans Pelicans because of various injuries.
But you’ll have to wait to see a few notable superstars debut this season. Los Angeles Lakers front man LeBron James is expected to sit out three to four weeks, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. Plus, Kyrie Irving appears to be working his way back from his season-ending ACL tear last March.
Before we get caught up in the whirlwind of the regular season, our NBA insiders provide updates on the injury status of key players and break down who is primed to make a notable return during opening week and who to keep an eye on as the regular season progresses.
Ready for their return
Zion Williamson, F, New Orleans Pelicans
There was skinny Jokic. Then skinny Doncic dazzled on the cover of Men’s Health. Now it’s skinny Zion who has many buzzing about the Pelicans this season, as he appears to be in his best shape since looking like a once-in-a-generation prospect at Duke. Williamson credits Daniel Bove, the Pelicans’ director of performance and sports science, for helping him transform his body through boxing and working out on a football field while rehabbing from a hamstring injury that plagued him all last season.
In six seasons in the league, Williamson has played 60 or more games only twice and was shut down last season in March after dealing with a bone bruise, having played only 30 games.
“I really felt a shift in my body to where I would look at [Bove] and say, ‘Dude, it feels good to feel good.’ I haven’t felt like this since college, high school, where I can walk into a gym, I feel good.” – Ohm Youngmisuk
Anthony Davis, F, Dallas Mavericks
Davis was fully cleared weeks before training camp, having recovered from offseason surgery to repair a detached retina in his right eye. He will spend the preseason getting used to the protective glasses he’ll have to wear the rest of his career, per doctor’s orders, as well as shedding the 15 extra pounds he carried into training camp. The 6-foot-10 Davis, now listed at 268 pounds, downplayed any worries about his weight, saying it’s normal for him to report to camp a little heavy. “I never want to come in at my playing weight, because then I lose weight during the season and then I’m too small,” Davis said. “I lose about 10 to 12 pounds very quickly. … So I’m never concerned about that. I feel great. I’m moving great. I feel good.” – Tim MacMahon
Kristaps Porzingis, C, Atlanta Hawks
Porzingis has a new home in Atlanta and the center, after dealing with a mysterious ailment that allowed him to play over 20 minutes in only one of his final six games with the Boston Celtics, says he’s feeling good again.
“Honestly, I still don’t have an exact answer,” Porzingis said at Hawks media day when asked about what was bothering him. “They had some sort of explanation for it, but it was lingering. That was the toughest part. Some days I was OK, energy was good and some days, boom, I had a crash. I’m glad it’s gone now.”
Porzingis played for the Latvia national team at EuroBasket this past summer and the center said the tournament helped him get back into shape for the upcoming season. The Hawks will need a healthy Porzingis to stretch the floor and provide a defensive presence at the rim for Trae Young and the Hawks to contend in the East.
“I don’t know, maybe it was just my system needed some reset during the summer,” Porzingis said. “I was really happy I had this summer, got in shape, played the tournament, I felt confident again like I have the gas tank again.” – Youngmisuk
LaMelo Ball, G, Charlotte Hornets
Ball spent time in the weight room this offseason to get stronger. After playing in a total of 105 games over the past three seasons combined because of injuries – most recently being shut down last season to have surgery on his ankle and wrist – Ball is determined to stay on the court.
So far this preseason, coach Charles Lee and Ball have talked about the star point guard stepping up and leading the Hornets more this season. Lee said he has seen his point guard show some of his leadership in the weight room by adding muscle.
“I’ve noticed a different commitment level in that area,” Lee said at Hornets media day. "Melo noticed that he is always drawing the best, most physical defender. At times, they made it difficult on him.
“So this year, adding that weight room piece for him was really important. … I think he has increased his lean muscle mass, he has increased his weight.” – Youngmisuk
Victor Wembanyama, C, San Antonio Spurs
Wembanyama was limited to 46 games last season because of right shoulder deep vein thrombosis. It motivated him to push himself physically and mentally this offseason in ways he has never experienced. He approached the offseason looking to try unconventional training methods, such as a 10-day retreat at a Shaolin temple in China, replete with meditation and kung fu training, and spent time working with Houston Rockets icon Hakeem Olajuwon.
Early returns look promising. He has bullied defenders in the preseason and swatted shots from all over the court. Wembanyama is fully healthy and has improved his body control, adding upper- and lower-body strength. And according to the 21-year-old, the chances for a recurrence of DVT are very low. – Michael C. Wright
Tyrese Maxey, G, Philadelphia 76ers
After sitting out the final few weeks of last season because of a finger injury – one of many maladies during a season that, even by 76ers standards, felt particularly cursed – Maxey is healthy and ready to go for the start of this season.
He played in the two exhibition games in Abu Dhabi last week and is on track to begin the season as the starting point guard. Given the number of other injuries Philadelphia is already dealing with, the fact that Maxey is ready to go will be music to the ears of coach Nick Nurse. – Tim Bontemps
Ja Morant, G, Memphis Grizzlies
Morant’s goal to “play 82,” as he stated at media day, is already in jeopardy. He’s considered week-to-week after spraining his left ankle during practice the day before the Grizzlies’ preseason opener. Morant’s acrobatic game makes durability an issue for the star guard. That’s why Morant, whose popularity is fueled by his high-flying highlights, declared last season that he is “not trying to dunk at all,” prioritizing protecting himself over entertaining fans. Since serving a 25-game suspension to start the 2023-24 season, Morant has played in only 59 games. He has been sidelined during that stretch by a variety of injuries – shoulder, hip, thigh, knee, back, foot, hamstring and ankle. – MacMahon
Opening night in question
Jaren Jackson Jr., F, Memphis Grizzlies
Jackson’s availability for the Oct. 22 season opener is in doubt as he works his way back from an early July surgery to repair a turf toe injury in his right foot. The Grizzlies announced entering training camp that Jackson would be able to return to play in four to six weeks, putting the two-time All-Star’s timetable in late October or early November. The surgery occurred a couple of days after Jackson officially agreed to a five-year, $240 million contract extension, but the Grizzlies’ front office was aware of the severity of the injury when that deal was finalized. – MacMahon
LeBron James, F, Los Angeles Lakers
James will make history whenever he appears in his first game this season, becoming the only NBA player to have played 23 seasons. But for the first time in his career, James is injured before the season opener, ending his streak of playing in Game No. 1 for 22 straight years. James is dealing with sciatica down the right side of his body, according to the Lakers, and won’t be reevaluated for another two to three weeks and has been limited to light shooting in training camp thus far, sitting out every practice and preseason game.
James hinted at the injury – which was sustained sometime in late July or early August during an on-court workout, sources told ESPN’s Shams Charania – during the team’s media day when he told ESPN, “I’m not where I want to be [physically].” James also said he would be sure to stay connected to the team while he rehabilitated. “My presence is going to be important,” James told ESPN. “Making sure that even if I’m not on the floor, I’m always in tune to what we’re doing – so I know what’s going on at all times.” – Dave McMenamin
Zach Edey, C, Memphis Grizzlies
Edey sit out at least the first two weeks of the season while recovering from offseason ankle surgery, according to the timetable the Grizzlies announced entering training camp. At the time, the team said that Edey could return to play in six to nine weeks. The longer end of that timetable would be the final weekend of November. Backup center Brandon Clarke also will sit out time to start the season while recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery, so the Grizzlies will have a glaring lack of depth in the frontcourt. Memphis will have to rely heavily on journeyman Jock Landale, an offseason addition who has averaged 12.8 minutes while playing for three teams in his four-year NBA career. – MacMahon
Jalen Williams, F, Oklahoma City Thunder
Williams initially suffered a fairly severe wrist injury – a torn scapholunate ligament – late in the regular season while grappling for a loose ball with Devin Booker in Phoenix. He played through it, estimating he needed nearly 30 painkilling shots during the Thunder’s run to the title. That delayed surgery until July 1, attached to a 12-week reevaluation clock, which expired right before training camp.
The team hasn’t officially ruled Williams in or out for the regular-season opener, but he hasn’t been in the contact portions of practice and has been spotted working only individually on the side, predominantly using his left hand. “Still got some ways to go with it,” Williams said at media day. – Anthony Slater
Jared McCain, G, Philadelphia 76ers
Last season, McCain was well on his way to winning the league’s Rookie of the Year award when he suffered a meniscus injury that cut things short after only 23 games last December – adding to the injury bug that plagued Philadelphia last season. But while McCain is fully healed from that injury, he tore a tendon in his right (shooting) thumb that required surgery last month, an issue that will cost him time at the start of the regular season.
Though the 76ers have plenty of guard depth, they also want to get McCain on the court with both Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe, the No. 3 pick in the June draft. – Bontemps
De’Aaron Fox, G, San Antonio Spurs
Last March, Fox opted to undergo season-ending surgery to repair tendon damage in his left pinkie finger and recovered just fine from that setback, only to suffer a strained right hamstring during a summer workout that leaves in question his availability for San Antonio’s Oct. 22 season opener at Dallas. Fox acknowledged he would sit out the preseason while expressing doubt he’d be ready to play in the opener.
But internally, the team has been encouraged by Fox’s progress. It’s worth noting that San Antonio traditionally errs on the side of caution when bringing players back from injuries. It certainly helps that the roster features a glut of guards that includes last season’s NBA Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle and No. 2 pick Dylan Harper. – Wright
Dejounte Murray, G, New Orleans Pelicans
Murray has spent six days a week in the training room, rehabbing and working his way back from a ruptured right Achilles tendon suffered at the end of January, and could be back this January.
The point guard is eager to return after his first season in New Orleans was limited to only 31 games, as he was also hampered by a broken hand. Murray averaged 17.5 points, 7.4 assists, 6.5 rebounds and 2.0 steals after coming in a trade from Atlanta.
“I’ve been having fun seeing the progression, knowing that day it all happened, I just couldn’t walk and couldn’t feel my calf. It was a challenge and I accepted it.” – Youngmisuk
Until further notice
Joel Embiid, C, Philadelphia 76ers
In a familiar feeling for the 76ers and their fans – most unfortunately – there is no bigger health question in the league than Embiid, and specifically his troublesome left knee. For more than a calendar year, it has been unclear when, or if, Embiid is going to be right again, and he reiterated that at media day last month.
“I’ve had so many injuries,” Embiid said. “The only thing I’ve always told myself is you can’t give up.”
Though both Embiid and the 76ers are not giving up on the superstar center returning to the dominant form that led to winning the league’s MVP award for the 2023 season, it remains unclear when he will be back on the court, be it at the start of the season or sometime after that. – Bontemps
Darius Garland, G, Cleveland Cavaliers
After his postseason was affected by a turf toe injury, Garland opted to have surgery in June, one that is likely to sideline him for the first few weeks of the regular season. Garland said at media day last week that his recovery is on schedule and that he’s running and doing on-court work. He remains out of participating with the team in practices to start the preseason, and isn’t expected to be ready to play in any exhibition games.
But Cleveland has made it clear that it isn’t going to rush Garland back – given the Cavaliers are hoping to be playing into June, and need Garland at 100% to do that. – Bontemps
Paul George, F, Philadelphia 76ers
George’s status for the start of the season remains unclear after it was announced he’d undergone an arthroscopic surgery after suffering an injury in an offseason workout – an ominous sign after only playing in half the games in his first season in 2024-25.
George, who has done some on-court work, said, “I do think I will be at a good place, hopefully earlier than later. Can’t get any worse than last year. That was a rock-bottom type of season.”
We’ll see if last season was, in fact, as bad as it can get, but the 76ers will be hoping George can be back either by opening night or soon thereafter. – Bontemps
Kyrie Irving, G, Dallas Mavericks
Coach Jason Kidd went out of his way to push back against the perception that Irving is “ahead of schedule” in his recovery from a torn ACL suffered in early March. But Irving’s progress is evident, and he hasn’t been shy about putting the proof on display with his post-practice work during media access periods.
Irving isn’t only taking spot-up jump shots. He’s working on his legendary isolation game, making one- and two-dribble moves against the defense of a team staffer. He often takes turns with No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg during these sessions, helping teach the 18-year-old rookie some tricks of the trade.
When will Irving join Flagg in game action? Irving, 33, doesn’t want to set a specific target date, preferring to pour himself into the daily grind. The Mavs would be happy to have Irving back in the mix around the All-Star break, which would give him about two months to chip off rust and ramp up before the postseason.– MacMahon
Lauri Markkanen, F, Utah Jazz
A variety of injuries, most notably a lower-back issue, limited Markkanen last season to a career-low 47 games. But he bounced back over the summer and looked healthy, leading Finland to the bronze medal game at EuroBasket with a 29-point performance that included 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals in an upset win over Nikola Jokic and Serbia. Markkanen sustained a left wrist bruise during the tournament, which forced him out of preseason games and has limited him for a good portion of the team’s training camp. Markkanen said he’s rehabbing daily, feeling better, and making progress, but added he’s “not sure of what the exact date is when I’m gonna start” playing again. – Wright
By NBA insiders | ESPN, via ESPN