The NBA’s injury list is already getting out of hand.
NBA fans have 12 games to look forward to on Wednesday, October 28, meaning 24 of the league’s 30 teams will be in action.
Unfortunately, injuries will be a major storyline across the entire slate.
The NBA’s 4:30 p.m. injury report listed 108 players in total, including those on G League assignment. Of those, 84 were listed with an injury or illness. And of those, 79 carried an out, doubtful, questionable or probable designation because of an injury or illness.
The season is barely a week old!
MORE: How Anthony Edwards, Kawhi Leonard injuries have shaken up NBA title race
Of course, not all injuries are created equal. Some players are day-to-day, while others could miss weeks or even months.
It doesn’t help that several stars are already sidelined:
- Tyrese Haliburton is questionable with hamstring tightness, but it’s been reported that he “will miss time” with the injury.
- Ivica Zubac is out with a left ankle sprain.
- Jalen Williams could miss the rest of the season with a left ankle fracture.
- Cason Wallace is out indefinitely with a left shoulder labral tear.
- Chet Holmgren is out with right knee patellar tendinitis.
- Kon Knueppel is out with a left hamstring strain.
- Jalen Duren is out with a right hamstring strain.
- Paolo Banchero is out with a right high ankle sprain.
- Kawhi Leonard is out with left knee swelling.
- Anthony Edwards is out with right knee injury management.
- Jaren Jackson Jr. is out with a right MCL tear.
It’s a frustrating development so early in the season. We should be talking about how the Minnesota Timberwolves have emerged as arguably the league’s most exciting team, how the Oklahoma City Thunder look primed for another run to the Finals, or whether the Indiana Pacers can build on their run to the 2025 NBA Finals.
Instead, injuries are already threatening to overshadow the early-season storylines.
And with so many players dealing with issues before November, it’s fair to wonder how much worse the list could get as the season wears on.
