Number of injured players surges at start of NBA season
At the start of the new season in the NBA, North America's professional basketball league, an unusually large number of players, including several stars, are sidelined. The share of injured players is the highest in four years.
The first weeks of the new season in the NBA, North America's professional basketball league, have been overshadowed by a large number of injured players. Several teams have already had to revise their plans, and discussion is growing about whether the league should take action.
Heaviest losses
The Oklahoma City Thunder have been hit hardest, having already lost three starters. Jalen Williams has a leg bone and ankle injury, and his absence could last until the end of the season. Kaison Wallace has a shoulder injury and is also expected to miss a long period. Chet Holmgren will be out for eight to ten weeks.
Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards is expected to miss about two months after knee surgery. In the Orlando Magic's ranks, Paolo Banchero will miss four to six weeks with an ankle injury, while Jalen Suggs is out for at least two more weeks. In the Atlanta Hawks' 99:121 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, Jalen Johnson hurt his ankle and Jock Landale hurt his hip.
Injuries began already in the preseason: Sacramento Kings player Ben Simmons tore an Achilles tendon, effectively ending his season before it began. Kristaps Porziņģis of the Golden State Warriors remains sidelined because of POTS symptoms.
The numbers
On 28 October, 63 players were unavailable in 12 games because of injury or illness, an average of 2.63 per team. At the same point last year the figure was 2.10, the year before 2.32, and in 2023 it was 1.54. That is an increase of roughly 25% on last season. Around 30 October, about 80 players were on injury lists.
An analysis by physician Brian Sutterer indicates that since the 2005/2006 season the share of games missed because of muscle, bone and joint problems has grown from 10.8% to 21.2%.
Possible causes
Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka has said he has not seen such a wave of injuries this early in a season. Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr believes 82 regular-season games are too many. Other suggested factors include the physical demands of modern basketball and heavy workloads in youth, high school and college basketball in the United States.
